Munis

Mesirow's George Barbar said the group's top legislative focus is preserving the municipal bond tax exemption.

As lobbying efforts happen behind the scenes in the House, the ongoing battle over the Washington, D.C., budget is attracting attention from the market and the credit rating agencies who are hedging their bets on a successful outcome.

Firms like Siebert Williams Shank and Huntington have begun stacking their benches with municipal finance talent amid tax exemption uncertainty.

The city council approved the private placement of up to $325 million of notes to commence funding for a $1 billion convention center expansion project.

Fitch Ratings cited the San Diego-area health district's ongoing fiscal woes in dropping its rating to B-minus from B and revising its negative watch to a negative outlook.

"If you're an issuer, this is fly-in season," said Jarrod Loadholt, partner at Ice Miller LLP. "Don't hope someone else is going to solve this for you — they're not."

A bondholder group is negotiating with the school, which continues to operate.

A $1.1 billion dollar cut to the Washington, D.C., budget by way of Congressional action is on hold thanks to intensive lobbying and an intervention by the Senate as the city vows to meet its financial obligations.

Northeastern University plans to sell municipal bonds to help replace its 115-year-old Matthews Arena, long-ago home of the Boston Bruins and Celtics.

Bond-issuing infrastructure districts and development zones were a focus of legislation passed by Utah lawmakers during a session that ended March 7.