This week, Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) announced the creation of the Municipal Finance Caucus to discuss the opportunities and challenges for states and local governments to fund initiatives that will strengthen their communities, and to advocate for bipartisan policies that enhance their access to the capital markets.
Key issues for the caucus include: protecting the tax exempt status of municipal bonds, understanding how financial regulations treat municipal debt, and ensuring there is a robust market for municipal securities. Last year, Rep. Hultgren and Rep. Ruppersberger sent a letter to House leadership expressing support for the tax exemption on municipal bonds which was also signed by more than 120 other House members.