MuniLand

Federal Reserve reported public #pension assets ↑ to $3.1 trillion as of 3/31/12 — highest point since 08 market drop twitter.com/PensionDialog/…

— Pension Dialog (@PensionDialog) June 21, 2012

Good Links

Reuters: Public pensions to give “clearer picture” of finances

Reuters: Moody’s downgrades $64 billion of U.S. muni debt

Reuters: U.S. high-yield muni buyers lose safeguards

AP: Auditor: Total Illinois deficit nears $44 billion

Illinois Policy Institute: $203 billion and counting: Total debt for state and local retirement benefits in Illinois

The Republic: Glendale, Arizona considers pledging city hall and police station as collateral for sports-related debt

WPRI: Rhode Island unions sue to block new pension law

@Twitter Talk

Stat of the Week @dleonhardt >50% of federal benefits flow to the 13% of population > 65 years old nyti.ms/KRXGXP

— Bruce Katz (@bruce_katz) June 24, 2012

2010 US public school system spending up 1.1% from 2009, with average of $10,615 per pupil. Find states that spent most:go.usa.gov/vQN

— U.S. Census Bureau (@uscensusbureau) June 21, 2012

Median prices for May home sales rose to a two-year high, at $182,600. But this largely reflects fewer low end (distressed) sales in the mix — Nick Timiraos (@NickTimiraos) June 21, 2012

VIDEO: How California’s tax structure fuels the budget shortfall more than spending ow.ly/bLsHz

— Standard & Poor’s (@standardpoors) June 22, 2012

The 25 Coolest Minor League Ballparks in America complex.com/city-guide/201…

— christopher whalen (@rcwhalen) June 24, 2012