Washington

SEC Commissioners gave the green light on Wednesday for the staff to propose two new amendments to Rule 15c2-12 that would require issuers and borrowers to disclose certain information about bank loans and private placements, which are increasingly used alternatives to publicly offered muni bonds.

Brookings Institution has extended its deadline for proposals for its sixth annual municipal finance conference to March 6.

Mark Kim from DC Water will become Lynnette Kelly's No. 2 at MSRB, while Lakshmi Kommi of the City of San Diego will replace him on the MSRB's board of directors.

Some analysts see an opportunity in hospital bonds, as the spreads in that sector have continued to widen even as the push to repeal the Affordable Care Act loses steam.

Troubles at the Oroville Dam in Northern California highlight the need for infrastructure maintenance and investment.

Howard University and Rhode Island-based vendor Corvias say their 40-year deal to renovate school halls will change the face of public-private partnerships.

The administration wants tax reform to be passed by August, while hundreds of groups press lawmakers to preserve full muni tax exemption.

Threats to the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the cross-border commerce it facilitates could reverberate through the trade-oriented West Coast economy.

House members reintroduced a bill to modernize and ease tax law restrictions for small bond issues used to finance manufacturing facilities.

Reason Foundation says $12 billion privately financed Texas bullet train proposal would require public funding.