NABL

Despite his pessimism about legislation, Mayor Steve Benjamin was upbeat about the effort by himself and other advocates of the municipal bond industry to get out their message.

A new legal bulletin was requested by SEC Chair Jay Clayton after he observed lawyers noting that some platforms put financial disclosure under more scrutiny.

At a bond lawyer conference, lawyers said they've seen increased interest in self-reporting.

Internal Revenue Service enforcement officials told NABL workshop attendees the service is hiring five new revenue agents, up from the current 20, and two additional tax law specialists.

Rich Moore takes over the top spot at NABL during the first day of a three-day annual conference in Chicago.

The evolution of muni advocacy has been in progression for years, though it was further galvanized by the shock and dismay at the 2017 tax reform.

Her announcement comes at a time of scrutiny from lawmakers and the SEC.

GFOA is putting together a working group to address concerns about continuing disclosure in the municipal market, a topic increasingly discussed among stakeholders.

In a Friday letter, NABL has only four suggestions for the IRS 2020 priority guidance plan on regulatory issues involving the tax-exempt bond industry, half as many as it did a year ago.

National Association of Bond Lawyers President Dee Wisor and President-elect Rich Moore discuss infrastructure, regulation, tax law and the group's educational efforts. Kyle Glazier hosts.

The positive side is the bipartisan legislation for reinstatement introduced by 10 House lawmakers last week has a high possibility of being included in any infrastructure legislation that passes that chamber.

The clarification allows dozens of otherwise stalled housing projects around the nation to move ahead with financing that includes a combination of tax exempt multifamily PABs and the 4% federal housing tax credit.

All four industry groups that submitted comments on the proposed rule requested a continuation of the practice that allows remarketing reissuances at a premium.

If blockchain becomes a force in the muni market, it could take on some of the duties done by middlemen, thereby cutting costs for issuers.

An easier procedure for declaring when a reissuance occurs is among NABL's recommendations.

None of the 12 recommendations require congressional action and all are within the scope of the administrative powers of the IRS, according to NABL.

Until a clarification is issued, bond lawyers are requiring that the rental units be open to all who qualify without any preferences for special groups such as veterans.

Altscher, a partner at Miles & Stockbridge in Baltimore for almost 40 years, was considered by his peers to be one of the nation’s top municipal finance tax lawyers.

The government shutdown limits the SEC's ability to answer issuers' questions on continuing disclosure requirements that take effect Feb. 27.

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., has pledged to ask mayors, governors and other municipal market advocates to testify at hearings early in 2019.