Northeast

As Tuesday's public hearing nears on the proposed fiscal recovery plan for Harrisburg, many agree that regardless of whether Pennsylvania's distressed capital city files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, getting all parties to look beyond their own interests is a major task.

Rhode Island's public colleges have proposed legislation to establish their own purchasing departments to spend money raised from tuition and fees.

Moody's Investors Service last week downgraded $1.1 billion of Catholic Health East debt to A2 from A1 due to cash-flow margins that fall below similar A-rated health care credits.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Monday is set to sign into law legislation that requires government employees to pay more for pension and health care benefits.

Gov. John Lynch on Friday let the state's budget become law without his signature. "This is not a budget I can endorse," Lynch, a Democrat, said two days after the Republican-controlled legislature approved the $10.2 billion, two-year spending plan.

Linden Ponds Inc., operator of a retirement community in Hingham, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The New York State Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp. next week will sell $975.5 million of tobacco refinancing bonds to generate savings.

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Wednesday will remarket $347.7 million of dedicated tax fund variable-rate refunding bonds originally sold in 2008.

Central Falls, R.I., received more bad news: The 2012 budget plan approved by the state House Finance Committee eliminated $6.7 million in aid to the struggling community.

The New York City Transitional Finance Authority Wednesday will competitively bid $300 million of building aid revenue bonds, including $100 million of taxable qualified school construction bonds.