Public finance

U.S. Conference of Mayors President Stephen Benjamin talks about the ways to get Congress to bring back advance refundings for municipal bond issuers. The mayor of Columbia, S.C., also discusses a Smart Cities agenda that’s focused on growing cities through improved infrastructure. John Hallacy is host.

The territorial government's resistance to the labor law may prompt Oversight Board to approve its own version of the budget due this month.

Municipal bonds held firm on Monday ahead of the week’s two biggest deals on opposite ends of the credit spectrum.

Georgia used an internet presentation and an investor platform to highlight its credit strengths before its annual general obligation bond sale.

The New York governor announced a $150 billion infrastructure plan for the next five years.

A bill now in committee would sell distressed federal assets to fund projects in distressed communities and pay down the deficit.

The largest school bond measure in Lane County, Ore., history soon might reach the ballot.

Municipals were mostly stronger at mid-session, as the market waits for the start of the week’s moderately sized new issue calendar.

Denver will combine a current refunding with the first sale of new bonds approved by voters last November.

State officials intend to come to market with $225 million of Commonwealth Transportation Fund revenue bonds.

Buyers of municipal bonds will see a sale this week that offers some high yields in return for taking on some additional risk not usually associated with typical deals. California’s Golden State Tobacco Securitization Corp. is issuing a $1.7 billion tobacco bond deal consisting of serials and turbo terms.

S&P said there was a one-in-three chance that it could raise Allen Park's rating by multiple notches over the next year.

The county's last junk bond rating was erased with a two-notch Moody's upgrade to Baa2.

Municipal bond buyers are looking with anticipation at the week’s calendar and the arrival of a big California tobacco bond deal.

The Atlanta City Council on Monday is expected to pass a $2.1 billion budget for fiscal 2019.

Gov. Jerry Brown convinced lawmakers to set aside $15.9 billion in total reserves.

Emrich is a longtime credit and bond analyst in the municipal securities market.

Harvey, Illinois, its public safety pension funds, and its revenue bondholders continue negotiating toward a settlement on revenue diversions.

Ipreo estimates weekly municipal volume at $7 billion, up from a revised total of $6.76 billion this week.

There was friction about the integrity of the muni market during a panel discussion Thursday, but the committee agreed to move along with some disclosure recommendations.