Economy

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce unveiled its 2013 policy agenda Thursday, calling for an increase in the federal gas tax at a time when some state leaders and industry experts are no longer pursuing that goal.

West Penn Allegheny Health System, bondholders and Highmark are continuing talks about a $475 million affiliation agreement, with West Penn possibly avoiding bankruptcy.

The Alameda Transportation Corridor Authority secured a trio of Single-A ratings ahead of plans to refund $290 million in senior revenue bonds.

The Virginia General Assembly will decide whether to grant itself more oversight over privatizing the state's port facilities, as well as several other bond-related questions.

The Illinois Finance Authority board advanced new-money and refunding deals planned by Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and the Franciscan Communities Inc. in the coming months.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has introduced his transportation plan, a major overhaul of the commonwealth's tax system that would see the state gas tax disappear in favor of higher sales taxes and other fees.

The impact of Hurricane Sandy on the New York City public hospital system will exceed $800 million, according to Health and Hospitals President Alan Aviles.

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority will price $805 million of Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority refunding bonds, starting with Wednesday's retail period.

Los Angeles City Council will vote Wednesday on whether to ask voters to approve $3 billion in bonds for street repairs.

Kentucky and Indiana settle the 2009 federal lawsuit by two nonprofit groups that could have derailed the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project. A second federal complaint is still pending.

Long-term pressures continue to plague bonds backed by the federal highway trust fund, but investors can offset their risk by investing in debt also secured by other revenue, according to a Wells Fargo analysis released Monday.

The United States not-for-profit sector outlook is stable for 2013, but less favorable than past years, according to Standard & Poor's.

Master trustee UMB Bank told West Penn Allegheny Health System to file an audited financial statement within 30 days to avoid violation of a bond covenant.

Georgia is moving forward with the nearly $1 billion Northwest Corridor Project after changing direction on how to proceed with the project to relieve gridlock in the Atlanta region.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich's proposal to issue $1.5 billion of bonds against future toll revenue from the Ohio Turnpike won't hurt bondholders of existing turnpike debt, though the new bonds may not be as highly rated as the current AA debt, Fitch Ratings said in a report Friday.

Bank of New York Mellon accelerated about $116 million of toll revenue bonds due to ongoing defaults by Florida's Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority. The trustee said payment on the bonds is due immediately.

Growing traffic between the United States and its international neighbors is leading to a need for more border road crossings, but a new HNTB white paper stresses the need for careful and conservative revenue studies for near-border toll points.

West Penn Allegheny Health System has 30 days to post its audited financial report for the 2012 fiscal year to avoid default on its $726 million bond issue.

The South Carolina Alliance to Fix Our Roads has begun to lobby for an increase in the state's motor fuel tax to fund more than $50 billion in needed transportation improvements.

Standard & Poor's last week revised its outlook to negative from stable on bonds issued by Louisiana's Jefferson Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 issued on behalf of East Jefferson General Hospital.