Washington

House plans to leave for a long recess Wednesday after voting on a 90-day extension of federal highway funding.

Pension burdens increased in fiscal 2013 for 31 of the 50 local governments with the most debt outstanding in that year, Moody's Investors Service said in a new report.

Revenue offsets in the Senate's six-year transportation funding bill are $1 billion short of proposed general fund transfers.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board revised its three online information facilities to add references to the self-regulator's core operational hours and highlight the 24/7 availability of a number of the systems' functions.

A coalition of state and city finance officials led by Rhode Island Treasurer Seth Magaziner wants the SEC to require greater transparency from PE firms that manage public pension funds.

Washington state will be among the biggest beneficiaries of Medicaid changes under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings

Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., and Sen. David Vitter, R-La., have introduced bipartisan disaster tax relief bills that include several bond provisions.

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday approved a bipartisan, modified, two-year tax extenders bill that includes several provisions relating to bonds and Puerto Rico.

Senate Republican leaders are working on a multiyear transportation bill that would resolve the shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund by dedicating roughly $40 billion of additional revenue to it from a variety of sources.

The Senate Finance Committee is pressing Treasury Secretary Jack Lew for positions on Puerto Rico, including whether it supports giving the troubled territory the ability to allow its public entities to file for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9.

Virginia will eliminate tolls on two tunnels under construction with $78 million saved by cancelling a P3 road project.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., hopes that one day, parents will give their kids infrastructure bonds for the holidays.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is proposing to create a trade data product that would allow higher education researchers to see what dealers are doing while keeping the dealer identities anonymous.

Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, have introduced identical bills that would make permanent and enhance the Qualified Zone Academy Bond program.

Senators are optimistic about passage next week of a multiyear transportation funding reauthorization measure.

The Port of Seattle is set to sell nearly $600 million of bonds next week to refund outstanding debt and to finance new projects at the city's airport and other facilities.

The House on Wednesday voted 312 to 119 to approve a bill that would extend federal transportation funding through Dec. 18, with an $8.1 billion transfer from general funds to the Highway Trust Fund.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fined three firms a total of $57,500 for municipal bond trade reporting violations. The self-regulator also suspended a former broker-dealer cashier for six months for fictitious trades.

Washington State's budget boosted education spending, a positive development for school districts and public universities, Moody's Investors Service said.

Providence Health & Services received a Fitch Ratings affirmation at AA ahead of plans to price two series totaling $356 million.