Politics

Analysts ponder what the Fed will do this year with a March cut ruled out amid recent reports of higher-than-expected inflation.

California State Senate suggests deficit-shrinking cuts ahead of formal budget.

The $650 million settlement will fund back pay for firefighters, who will also get future wage hikes.

"Insurance rationing by the leading insurers is becoming the mechanism by which climate risk is starting to impact municipal issuers," said Triet Nguyen, vice president of strategic data operations at DPC Data.

"My 'One Philly Budget' invests $2 billion over five years in new operating and capital dollars focusing on five pillars — public safety, clean and green, economic opportunity, housing and education," said Mayor Cherelle Parker, the city's first woman mayor.

Gov. Tina Kotek sent a letter to transportation commissioners asking them to scrap a tolling plan for Portland-area highways that was seven years in the making.

In an April 2 special election, voters in Jackson County, home of Kansas City, will decide whether to impose a sales tax to fund a new baseball ballpark.

Since Gov. Ron DeSantis took office in 2019, Florida has paid down $5.3 billion of state debt, or about 25% of the Sunshine State's total debt.

Though the economists don't expect a recession looking out two years, there is a lot of risk related to the conflict in the middle east and uncertainty around monetary policy.

The American High-Speed Rail Act has seen "some initial interest from Republican lawmakers – I'm working hard to get them on board too," said bill sponsor Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass.

The relative health of state treasuries was an area of interest at the National Association of State Treasurers legislative conference.

California's Inglewood Transit Connector Project, Chicago's Red Line extension, New York-New Jersey's Hudson Tunnel and the Second Avenue subway would all win funds under the spending proposal.

The bill allows local governments to bypass public bidding and notice requirements in current P3 law.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said her public-private sector plan to build a strategic water supply will remain a top priority after a bill for financing failed to advance in the legislature.

The National Football League's Chicago Bears are pursuing plans to build a publicly owned domed stadium in Chicago, boosted by $2 billion of private funds. 

States and local governments can use the funds to hire advisors to consider alternative delivery models for transportation projects.

Market participants said it is yet to be seen whether issuers will pull back their BABs refundings due to concerns after several bondholders sent a letter to the trustee on a Regents of the University of California deal, saying it was "prohibited" from executing the redemption.

"Cry me a river, Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., told officials testifying about grant funding problems in the infrastructure law. "You guys have never had it so good."

Sam Graves' term leading the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is up but he is looking to stay on.

Detroit, which has several climate-friendly projects in the pipeline, is seeking a tax advisor to help navigate snag tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act.