The politics of higher ed: tax treatment at stake in election

November's election carries high stakes for universities and colleges that have already found themselves facing the glare of Capitol Hill's spotlight over the past year. The new administration and Congress are expected to take up tax reform next year, which could reshape the tax treatment of nonprofit higher-education institutions. House Republicans have criticized the institutions' tax-exempt status and passed legislation to increase a tax on large endowments. Risks come from both parties as all lawmakers will be on the hunt for revenue, said higher-ed advocates.

Nominations for The Bond Buyer’s 2024 Deal of the Year awards are due Friday.

Labor shortages, aging infrastructure, and affordable housing rank as the primary challenges facing public entities, according to respondents to HilltopSecurities' 2024 Public Entity Survey. The survey, conducted between May and August, contains responses from more than 1,200 public sector employees and municipal market participants

From politics to disclosure to funding, the changing climate challenges muni issuers. Learn more in our Climate Spotlight 2024 package.

The Biden administration announced a safe drinking water rule that will require almost all cities to replace their toxic lead pipes within the next 10 years. "Folks, what is a government for if it cannot protect the public health?" Biden asked a crowd Tuesday in Milwaukee, where he announced the rule. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements rule, the strictest in 30 years, replaces a rule put in place by former President Donald Trump.

Watch what the municipal bond industry’s innovators and influencers are saying in our Leaders series of video interviews. Check out our lineup of future live interviews and archived conversations.

Municipals were slightly weaker Wednesday for the fourth consecutive session following more losses in U.S. Treasuries while equities made gains. Muni yields were cut up to three basis points, depending on the scale.

Register now for The Bond Buyer’s California Public Finance conference, coming to San Francisco later this month.

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board and bondholders opposed to the proposed plan of adjustment remain far apart, according to disclosures on the EMMA website.

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