Public finance

Chicago’s CFO, Lois Scott, is promoting the city's new plan to take on $200 million of new debt to pay for canceling interest-rate swaps and to phase out debt restructurings.

INDIANA

ALABAMA

House Appropriations subcommittee adopted a fiscal 2016 transportation budget with no increase in highway and transit spending.

After 42 years at Moody's Investors Service, John Incorvaia is retiring after spending most of his analytical career covering Florida. April 30 is his last day on the job.

The Panama Canal expansion will benefit East Coast local governments near key ports, but West Coast ports will not lose business from the expansion, according to a Moody’s Investors Service report.

A second federal lawsuit has been filed challenging the private activity bond financing for the All Aboard Florida train project; the latest suit comes from Martin County, Fla.

Rep. Rep. Bill Pascrell, who keeps a Lucite encased drinking water pipe in his office as a reminder of the "very serious and urgent" need, has continued to press for his Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act.

Bondholders for a failed private jail would receive about 55 cents on the dollar under a proposed sale of the $35.4 million lockup to Burnet County, Texas, according to a trustee's disclosure.

CONNECTICUT

ARKANSAS

Last week's aborted Louisiana State University bond deal stemmed from what an analyst called a “shell game” in which state lawmakers try to balance budgets by cutting aid to localities.

Chapter 9 guru James Spiotto says states are increasingly realizing the importance of early intervention in their distressed cities to avoid the crisis of a municipal bankruptcy where everyone loses.

Millions of jobs and billions of dollars in state road and transit projects are at risk unless a multiyear federal transportation bill is in place by the end of May, Senate Finance Committee Democrats warned on Tuesday.

Older companies often face challenges in adapting to new challenges, but they have advantages as well, according to chief executives, including Alexandra Lebenthal, at the Milken Institute’s Global Conference.

With the possibility of Chapter 9 hanging over Detroit Public Schools, investors holding Detroit schools debt may want to consider selling, says Municipal Market Analytics.

Variable rate debt represents 8% of the bond portfolio of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority — well below its 25% threshold, said finance manager Patrick McCoy.

A $967 million federal loan for commuter rail safety technology represents "a very favorable position for the MTA," said finance manager Patrick McCoy.

ARKANSAS

MARYLAND