Northeast

Pennsylvania's Senate Finance Committee in a 6-5 vote on Wednesday moved a pension-change bill considerably weaker than what Gov. Tom Corbett proposed.

On Tuesday New York state government leaders reached an agreement to create a Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments.

Moody's Investors Service has dropped York, Pa.'s general obligation debt to Ba1 from Baa3.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the Schenectady City School District, N.Y.'s general obligation debt to A2 from A1 on Tuesday.

Two state lawmakers from Staten Island want the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to reconsider its decision to use 15,000 tons of steel fabricated in China for repairs to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Continuing financial obligations will make Pennsylvania Turnpike debt unsustainable and tolls crushing for motorists and businesses, according to the state's auditor general.

New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a list of 24 fiscally stressed counties, cities and towns in the state Tuesday.

One day after Moody's threatened to downgrade Rhode Island, a House finance panel approved an $8.2 billion budget that includes $2.5 million for 38 Studios bonds.

A New Haven official acknowledged the need to plug a budget deficit after Moody's issued the Connecticut city its second downgrade in two months.

New York's agreement with the Seneca Nation is a credit positive for Niagara Falls, N.Y., Moody's Investors Service says.