The recent bipartisan passage of the $105 billion Federal Aviation Administration bill includes a significant increase in funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This program, which supports new airport infrastructure projects such as runways, will see a 20% increase in funding, bringing it to $4 billion annually or $20 billion over the next five
Politics
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is now grappling with the issue of how much the federal government should contribute to the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, originally financed by bonds. Following the collapse of the bridge due to a collision with a container vessel, President Biden expressed his intention for the
The Colorado Legislature recently wrapped up its session after achieving significant milestones in various areas. The session saw the passing of a fiscal 2025 budget, changes in school funding, a property tax cut, and measures targeted at advancing multi-billion-dollar passenger rail projects and a bond-financed purchase of a historic hotel. Senate President Steve Fenberg described
The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) has recently sought approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission to revise its supervision rule in light of the growing prevalence of remote work settings. This amendment to Rule G-27 on supervision aims to align MSRB regulations with those of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), providing dealers with
The Virginia General Assembly has seen its fair share of battles and negotiations regarding the state’s budget. From clashes over environmental issues to school funding, the process has been anything but smooth. The saga that unfolded between the state’s Republican governor and the Democratically controlled legislature has kept the budget in a constant state of
In a time when federal initiatives for student loan forgiveness are at the forefront of discussions, some states and municipalities are taking a different approach. By linking bond-financed mortgage programs to student loan forgiveness, these entities are aiming to boost homeownership among specific groups. One such program is the Maryland SmartBuy program, designed to assist
United Airlines Holdings Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. have finally settled on an $8.5 billion revamp plan for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. This agreement comes after a series of disagreements over escalating costs and delays in the project implementation, which was initially announced in 2018. Both airlines, along with the city of Chicago, have
John Williams, the President of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, recently discussed the timing of federal interest rate cuts at the Milken Institute’s Global conference. Despite the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to cut rates amid persistent high inflation, Williams hinted that rate cuts are inevitable. He emphasized the significance of monitoring various economic indicators to
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green was unsuccessful in his attempts to convince lawmakers to consider important legislation that would have provided support to struggling Hawaii Electric Co. The proposed Senate Bill 2922, introduced by Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Chair Jarrett Keohokalole, aimed to allow HECO to issue up to $2.5 billion in low-interest bonds. However,
Recently, Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ announced that Barclays has been added to the list of investment banks deemed to be “boycotting” the fossil fuel industry, making them ineligible for state and local government contracts. This decision comes as part of the state’s 2022 Energy Discrimination Elimination Act, which aims to hold companies accountable for