119th Congress

Advocacy Primer

We support sensible policies that enable our state and local governments to tap into the $4 trillion municipal market and finance critical infrastructure that builds strong, healthy, economically vibrant communities.

Above All Else…

Congress and the administration should defend affordable finance options for our communities and reject efforts to eliminate or reduce the federal tax exemption on municipal bond interest. Holders do not pay federal income taxes on interest paid on qualified municipal bonds, which reduces the interest costs for state and local borrowers. Limiting or eliminating the tax-exemption on bonds would amount to a federal takeover of local decision-making and rip money from the communities that know their infrastructure needs best. More importantly, any effort to reduce or eliminate the tax exemption would result in increased borrowing costs, forcing state and local governments to either cut back infrastructure investment or raise taxes and rates on American households.

$4.1 T

Size of the outstanding market in 2024.

$823.9 B

Estimated nationwide savings over 2026-2035.

$70.9 B

Saved by community issuers and borrowers in 2023.

210 bp

Average borrowing rate difference (in basis points) between taxable and tax-exempt municipal bonds in 2023.

$6,544.67

Savings from the tax-exemption per U.S. household over the next 10 years (2026-2035).

What Do Bonds Build in Your Community?

Learn more about what bonds have built and are building in your community.

Three Ways to Support Municipal Finance

Since the first issues in the early 1800s, municipal bonds have had a proven track record as an effective tool for state and local governments to finance critical infrastructure. Here are three ways in which federal policymakers can furthers trengthen community finance.

More Resources

Here to Help

We collectively serve as a brain trust on all things related to public finance and municipal bond law. Our members throughout the country and professional staff based in Washington, D.C. are committed to promoting sensible public finance policy.

Other Emerging Issues

Photo Of Wind Turbines Under Cloudy Sky. Source: Harry Cunningham

ESG

Environmental, Social, and Governance factors in the context of the municipal market.

Financial Data Transparency Act (FDTA)

Legislation passed at the end of 2022 to apply data standards to information submitted to and managed by several financial regulators, including the MSRB.

Biden at signing of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Source: CSPAN

Inflation Reduction Act

Large domestic policy package offering more than $400 billion in new federal investment and $300 billion in deficit reduction.

Construction of the new east span of the Bay Bridge connecting Oakland and San Francisco, CA.
Construction of the new east span of the Bay Bridge connecting Oakland and San Francisco, CA.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

Bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in late 2021 that enacted two new types of exempt facility bonds.

Coronavirus. Source Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

COVID-19

Resources for bond lawyers working with clients through the global pandemic.