Muni Think

Since the release of the Securities and Exchange Commission's final municipal advisor registration rule in September 2013, the Bond Dealers of America and its members have dedicated significant efforts and resources to work with regulators, educate issuers and ultimately be prepared to make a successful implementation of the rule.

As the legal fight over Puerto Rico's Recovery Act heats up, Argentina and Arkansas provide roadmaps to what may lie ahead.

As many state and local governments across the country begin their July 1 fiscal year, a new federal law going into effect is of particular interest to municipal governments that issue bonds.

Of various possible exclusions and exemptions in the SEC's Municipal Advisor Rule, a handful are particularly likely to prove useful in easing disruptions in the underwriter-issuer/borrower relationship.

The long-awaited Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act has the potential to play an important part in encouraging the use of P3s in the water and waste water sectors.

The inexorable drive to further underfund Pennsylvania's state-wide pension systems remains alive and well, under the guise of "pension reform."

Illinois and New Jersey are showing us how you should never, ever underestimate politicians' willingness to put off painful fiscal decisions.

Despite widely cited financial woes among both municipalities and monolines, guarantees have worked largely as anticipated to protect holders of insured securities.

Despite the warm spring weather, industry concerns over the SEC's Municipal Continuing Disclosure Cooperative Initiative have begun to snowball.

Like it or not, getting wealthy individuals to move to the Island in order to avoid U.S. taxes appears now to be a cornerstone of Puerto Rico's growth drive and is characteristic of the country's eternal search for a quick and painless way to grow.