Washington

The U.S. infrastructure system looks remarkably backwards to many international eyes, and threatens the economy in the long run, experts said on Wednesday.

Local, county and state officials said they took initial steps Wednesday in what will become a much larger contingent of elected officials who will jawbone their federal counterparts with testimonials about the cost savings attributable to advance refundings.

Twenty-two states have not issued any bonds to boost the amount of money available from their clean or drinking water state revolving funds, according to the National Resources Defense Council.

New Jersey lawmakers want to complete sports gambling legalization to get new revenue for the state government and debt-ridden Atlantic City.

Transportation lobbyists and researchers discussing surface transportation finance during an Infrastructure Week webcast were unanimous in saying that Congress should lift the general prohibition on tolling interstate highways.

With only Sen. Elizabeth Warren challenging their thoughts, Fed nominees Richard Clarida and Michelle Bowman are likely to win approval from the Senate Banking Committee.

While the Federal Open Market Committee will raise interest rates a total of three or four times this year, interest rates will remain low by historical standards.

Bills that stripped territory from Stockbridge without apportioning its debt are credit negative for Georgia local governments and could impose higher borrowing costs.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan cautioned against policy actions that would push short-term borrowing costs above longer-term yields and said the U.S. central bank should move gradually with its plan to raise interest rates.

Richard Clarida, President Donald Trump’s nominee for vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, will tell U.S. lawmakers he would support policies that take a “balanced approach” to achieving the Fed’s goals of maximum employment and price stability.