Scott Sowers

Housing bill advances By an overwhelming bipartisan majority, the House advanced affordable housing legislation that includes a proposal that's expected to spur mortgage revenue bond issuance.

House tackles housing -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/housing...

Reconciliation could pose threat to tax exemption Public finance advocates are trying to interpret mixed signals about plans to pass a major reconciliation bill that could put the threat to the tax-exempt status of munis back on the table.

Shall we reconcile -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/reconci...

Tribes reacting to final Treasury regulations Native American Tribes are culling through new rules from the U.S. Treasury Department that could boost economic development.

Good news from Indian Country -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/tribes-...

Sec. Duffy and Gov. Moore building bridges A squabble between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the state of Maryland appears to be moving towards a resolution which effects two major bridges in the Washington D.C. – Baltimore region.

Teamwork makes the dream work -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/sec-duf...

Issuers looking for help with PFAS Attorneys and lawmakers are working through questions from clients and water authorities about finalized drinking water rules by the EPA regarding "forever chemicals."

All about the PFAS -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/issuers...

I've been trying to avoid writing anything about AI since the hoopla started but my streak is now at an end.

Housing bill dropped from NDAA Legislation to increase the affordable housing supply which often includes bond sales is getting attention in Congress as the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act hits a speed bump.

Hitting the ROAD -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/housing...

Virginia eyeing budget challenges A budget forecast prepared by the Virginia House Appropriations Committee shows tightening financial constraints in 2026 —including a higher cap on state and local tax deductions — could result in the...

Changing of the guard -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/virgini...

Redistricting favors a rightward shift in tax policy As more states move towards resetting their Congressional districts questions arise over how redistricting will affect the balance of power and eventually tax policy.

Happy Election Day -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/redistr...

Arbitrage opportunities and challenges Higher interest rates are keeping arbitrage on the playing field as issuers try to play by the rules and still come out ahead.

Gambling on arbitrage -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/arbitra...

Maryland DOT comes to market with $842.7 million deal The Department of Transportation is offering its Consolidated Transportation Bonds in a competitive sale Wednesday to what promises to be a receptive market.

Such a deal -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/marylan...

Shutdown raises stakes for cities Pausing federal funding creates another hardship for municipalities who are also reeling from infrastructure grants being clawed back by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Happy Shutdown Day -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/shutdow...

Maryland takes another financial hit due to federal law Maryland's comptroller reports the state is projecting a $189 million drop in general fund revenue due to the unfolding effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which could result in the state decou...

OBBA strikes again -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/marylan...

States bracing for budget disruptions Special budget sessions, falling tax revenues and provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are combining with tariffs and cuts to the federal workforce to create headaches for the states.

Hello OBBBA -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/states-...

D.C. police takeover raises public finance questions President Trump's move to take over the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department by deploying the National Guard is spawning a request to Congress to establish a security fund that could also be...

Who is paying for what -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/d-c-pol...

Virginia Port Authority bonds finance upfront rent payment The Virginia Port Authority will sell bonds to finance upfront rent payments for the privately owned Virginia International Gateway.

Such a deal -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/virgini...

Eleven Women, Nine Dogs, Not Much Drama (and No Guys)

A different take on retirement -> Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/w...

Washington, D.C., City Council approves stadium deal The council voted to preliminarily approve a $3.7 billion deal that will return an NFL team to play games inside the city limits while committing over $1 billion in taxpayer money.

Such a deal -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/washing...

Study suggests coal decline tied to rising bond yields A new study indicates that the transition from coal to natural gas is resulting in deteriorating fiscal health in some communities and increases municipal bond yields.

Old King Coal -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/study-s...

DC Water coming to market with green bonds The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority is selling $216.5 million of revenue refunding bonds and financing the Clean Rivers Project, a massive effort designed to reduce combined sewer overf...

Such a deal -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/d-c-wat...

I just got a pitch for a story on Brazilian potash. I have no idea what that even means. Pitch denied.

Baltimore outlook revised to negative Moody's has downwardly revised the outlook for Baltimore's issuer rating and several classes of bonds due to a trend of declining fund balance levels in a city dependent on a major international shipp...

Bad news from Charm City -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/baltimo...

Byrd rule could threaten muni tax exemption Attorneys and muni advocates are concerned as the Senate reviews the budget reconciliation process against the "Byrd Rule."

Byrd is the word -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/byrd-ru...

Column | LIV Golf’s stars came up short at a major championship. Again. Major championship golf is a stern test that LIV’s well-compensated stars keep failing. That’s no coincidence.

Boom -> wapo.st/400OvgA

How to Invest When Everything Yields the Same One option is to look elsewhere, outside the U.S., where some are betting on another “great convergence” among investment assets.

What to do, what to do.... -> www.wsj.com/finance/inve...

Higher SALT cap taking flak in the Senate The hard-fought increase to the cap on state and local tax deductions that was instrumental to passing the House GOP tax bill is under fire in the Senate.

Again with the SALT -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/salt-ca...

I'm always amused by SMEs lobbying to be used as a source but when you ask them for a quote, they don't have time. Then they say they want to be asked again, "next time." Here's a pro tip. There won't be a next time if you don't say something this time. End of rant.

How Denver amassed the country’s weirdest airport art collection Public funding helps Denver International install conversation pieces like “Bluecifer” the horse and a sculpture made of luggage.

Always an interesting place for a layover -> wapo.st/3SvSM7C

Maryland treasurer suggests dumping Moody's after downgrade Maryland is preparing for upcoming bond sales as the state treasurer responds to a Moody's downgrade by suggesting the state part ways with the rating agency.

Mixing it up -> www.bondbuyer.com/news/marylan...

Wow.