Washington

A diverse group of associations with ties to the municipal bond market expect to publish a paper early next year that will give state and local governments guidance on how and when to disclose loans they receive direct from banks.

The National League of Cities has tapped Clarence E. Anthony, a former mayor and NLC president, to become its new executive director early next year.

Regulatory priorities for the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service this year and next include proposing guidance on arbitrage investment restrictions which likely includes issue price, according to plans they released this week.

There is more new leadership at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, as the group voted this week to elect Rhode Island Transportation Director Michael Lewis as the association's president for the next year.

The impact of the rapidly approaching fiscal cliff could devastate U.S. debt-financed infrastructure if Congress fails to find an alternative combination of cuts and revenue measures, Fitch Ratings said Monday.

Three muni market groups have joined forces with the Council of Development Finance Agencies and sent Congress draft legislation that would create special Hurricane Sandy Recovery Bonds to help businesses and people in the Mid-Atlantic region still reeling from storm-related destruction.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined three Chicago-based firms a total of $40,000 for violations of muni trade reporting and other rules.

Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman wrote U.S. Senators Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., to oppose legislation that would limit states' control of online gambling within their borders.

The board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority voted Wednesday to increase rates on the Dulles Toll Road, calling it necessary to finance part of the mostly bond-funded and highly controversial Silver Line rail extension to Dulles International Airport.

The District of Columbia achieved its lowest 25-year interest rate ever, surpassing even rates seen with federally subsidized Build America Bonds, when it sold its income tax-secured revenue bonds this week, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer announced Tuesday.

Frederick "Bud" Wright is expected to become the new executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officers early next year, sources said Tuesday.

The IRS has told the city of Bell, Calif., that $35 million of general obligation bonds it issued in 2007 may not be tax-exempt because the agency believes the bond issue is a hedge bond.

Hurricane Sandy may demonstrate to lawmakers the importance of tax-exempt financing and promote opposition to proposals that threaten munis’ tax exemption.

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., sent a letter to District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray, outlining a way to move forward on lifting the district's building height restrictions, while expressing concern about protecting the capital's character.

The MSRB, to boost trade transparency, announced that the par amount of trades of less than $5 million will now be posted on the EMMA system in real time.

Seattle voters overwhelmingly authorized $290 million of 30-year bonds to help rebuild part of the city’s seawall and downtown piers.

John Horsley and Jack Basso will take about 90 years of experience with them when they retire from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in February, and the two are disappointed to be stepping away from a very uncertain future.

Voters from California to Florida passed at least $10.9 billion of bond issues with interest rates on municipal debt close to the lowest since the 1960s.

Municipal market participants are split over whether a proposal to tighten oversight of retail-order periods should specifically define types of orders that qualify as "retail."