MuniLand

The United States plows along at a 1.5% average growth rate. Meanwhile state tax revenues are coming in much stronger. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Good Links

Bond Buyer: Who on earth dreamed up this convoluted municipal bond scheme?

Bloomberg View: Wall Street’s big swingers get the biggest breaks

Bloomberg: Institutional bond fund manager says municipal bank loans OK with disclosure

Bond Buyer: Illinois’ unfunded pension obligations grew by about $7 billion

AP: States change how they recruit foster parents

State of Michigan: Foster care rates

WAMC: First “environmental justice” contention accepted for hearing at the Atomic Safety Licensing Board

Roxbury News: Video – Receiver for bankrupt Harrisburg, PA takes citizen’s questions

Collingswoood Patch: 8-year-old advocates for repeal of chicken ban

@Twitter Talk

@dvandeventer Donald van Deventer  #SovereignRisk: US GAO cannot render opinion on U.S. government financial statements:  riskcenter.com/story.php?id=9…

@rachbarnhart Rachel Barnhart   Document in which NY declared independence from British, dated May 26, 1775, discovered in Syracuse  bit.ly/y9fMXI

MillerTabak Michael Pietronico   the powers that be in the municipal market “rolled” the yield curve last night…we suggest that skepticism is warranted today by buyers

Fixedology Fixedology   Technicals supportive in 2011, expect same in 2012: restricted #muni supply, steady demand (funds, boomers, corps w/ cash, crossover buyers)

@Richard_Florida Richard Florida   America’s Healthiest Metros – West, esp California dominates but Burlington, Bridgeport & Trenton-Ewing make the list - theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifes…

@StatesAndCities Bloomberg State/Muni  Boeing Betrays Wichita After City Helped Win Tanker, Mayor Says:ow.ly/8j99H

@kevindepew Kevin Depew  PA Dec. slot revs rose 14% even with fewer machines operating. For 2011 slots produced $1.3 bln in tax revenue. $$

@HuffPostBiz HuffPostBiz  NJ Governor Christie: Jersey should be online gambling’s “epicenter” huff.to/ywCxtu

@jerseyjazzman Jersey Jazzman   Urban Students=Cash Cows: Taxpayer $ fast-tracked to private charter management companies. It’s for the kids…  jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2012/01/urban-…

@munilass Bond Girl  Atlanta City Council approves airport concessions contracts despite concern contracts are going to political donors  bit.ly/y3gBYN

@tmaniccia Tim Maniccia   Twenty-six felony charges were filed today against current and former Sweetwater (CA) schools officials.  utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/…