Southeast

DALLAS — Louisiana Treasurer John N. Kennedy has urged Gov. Bobby Jindal to develop a financial contingency plan in case BP Corporation North America Inc. declares bankruptcy due to the enormous costs associated with its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

DALLAS — State and local officials dealing with the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico criticized BP’s response to the incident during Wednesday’s special two-hour briefing to the Louisiana Legislature.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Tennessee General Assembly late Wednesday ended its annual session after sending Gov. Phil Bredesen a $29.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Kentucky Turnpike Authority plans to begin pricing $334.2 million of new-money and refunding revenue bonds Monday for in-state retail investors. Final pricing is expected Tuesday.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida’s elected Cabinet yesterday expressed frustration at the failure of BP and the federal government to shut off the flow of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico and perform cleanup efforts.

DALLAS — The Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee has backed an 11-point outline of how the state should finance transportation projects.

DALLAS — Louisiana state senators have endorsed key elements of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s fiscal plan for dealing with a revenue shortfall estimated at $3 billion over the next two fiscal years.

WASHINGTON — The North Carolina Senate yesterday passed a $451 million bond package for its state university and community college systems as some legislators emphasized the importance of education investment even in the face of a large budget deficit.

WASHINGTON — The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority next week expects to price $100 million of homeownership revenue bonds in its first issuance under the Treasury Department’s New Issue Bond Program.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Broward County in southeast Florida later this month plans to sell $220.2 million of revenue bonds, most of which will be taxable Build America Bonds. The deal represents the county’s first use of BABs and the first time it will leverage a local half-cent sales tax.