News and Information from Bond Buyer

A proposed House bill to treat investment grade and actively traded municipal securities as high quality liquid assets received support from members of a House Financial Services Committee panel as well as banking experts during a hearing on Wednesday.

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts approved the Philadelphia Area Municipal Analyst Society as its seventh charter society.

New York’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority won a rating boost from Standard & Poor’s for its Series 2002F general revenue variable-rate bonds.

Voters in Louisiana Saturday select a new governor and decide on a constitutional amendment to fund new transportation projects that opponents say could hurt the state’s credit ratings.

Americans agree on the need for higher highway funding in a new nationwide poll but there’s no accord on how to pay for it.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its ratings on the city of Wolfforth, Texas's general obligation bonds to A-plus from A.

Local credits in Michigan will be hurt if a proposal to give their unlimited tax general obligation bonds a statutory first lien falls through, Fitch Ratings said in a special report.

The relationship between local government and its workforce is an important indicator of the strength of a municipalities’ credit, Fitch Ratings said in a report released on Wednesday.

The Treasury Department's Antonio Weiss and Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla will testify on Thursday before a Senate Committee on the territory's economy, debt and options that should be considered by Congress.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its rating on Sewickley Borough, Pa.'s general obligation debt one notch to AA from AA-minus.

Moody's Investors Service said it upgraded the rating on the Sierra Kings Health Care District, Calif.’s existing general obligation bonds to Baa1 from Baa3.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its rating on Winsted, Minn.'s outstanding, general obligation-backed debt to A from A-plus.

Prices of top-shelf municipal bonds were stronger at mid-session, traders said, as the New York City Transitional Finance Authority hit the market with a big negotiated deal and two competitive sales.

Pennsylvania Auditor Eugene DePasquale says the Harrisburg School District’s cafeteria is giving him heartburn, and it’s not about the food.

Puerto Rico's efforts for a consensual debt restructuring suffered a setback Wednesday, as talks between the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico and a group of investors broke down.

If enacted, Michigan's statutory lien bill will significantly improve recovery value if a municipality defaults, compared to other general creditors, including employees, Fitch Ratings says. However, it will not reduce the risk of default.

Municipal bond traders are set for the institutional pricing of the New York City Transitional Finance Authority deal along with two competitive sales from the authority.

Wednesday, October 21 Issuer St Description Amount

Wednesday, October 21 Issuer St Description Amount

Oct. 21, 2015 Midwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Illinois A3/A+/A+ 0.98 3 3.92 4.97 Indiana Aaa/AAA/AA+ 0.23 1.26 2.14 3.19 Iowa Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.23 1.27 2.14 3.19 Michigan Aa2/AA/AA 0.27 1.33 2.25 3.32 Minnesota Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.24 1.24 2.09 3.11 Missouri Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.23 1.21 2.05 3.1 Nebraska NR/AAA/NR 0.23 1.28 2.19 3.27 North Dakota Aa1/AA+/NR 0.26 1.33 2.22 3.27 Ohio Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.25 1.26 2.17 3.26 South Dakota NR/AA+/AA+ 0.27 1.32 2.22 3.29 Wisconsin Aa2/AA/AA 0.26 1.3 2.19 3.22