Regulators have also brought several new enforcement actions during the first quarter of this year under existing pay-to-play rules and ethics laws.

This year's US presidential election has drawn the attention of voters across the country as well as people around the world.

The Highway Trust Fund, supported largely through user fees by way of federal gas tax revenues, serves as the primary mechanism for states to fund road and transit construction and maintenance projects.

The US Department of Transportation’s TIFIA credit support program is by far the most successful financial support program for surface transportation public-private partnerships.

In a major policy shift with potentially large implications for US infrastructure public-private partnership ("PPP") activity, the Obama administration has proposed to change federal law to give US states broad authority to put tolls on existing interstate highways to provide funding for transportation purposes.

In a significant campaign finance decision, the Supreme Court struck down one of the key limits on federal campaign contributions.

President Obama today announced a series of proposals to encourage greater private investment in US highways and other infrastructure assets.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently approved amendments to the state’s campaign finance law.

On June 28, 2012, the US House of Representatives and Senate reached agreement on the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (S. 1813; MAP-21).

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently took action to curb pay-to-play abuses with respect to investment advisory services for any "plan or program of a government entity"; essentially, any state or local pension funds, retirement systems or other government plans (all referred to herein as government plans).

Entities doing business with the Illinois state government or with local governments in Illinois should be aware of several new laws related to campaign finance, ethics, public records, lobbying and procurement that are effective in 2010. In short, the laws and changes are as follows:

In response to investigations into alleged corrupt practices involving the use of placement agents with respect to public pension funds, retirement systems and other government fund entities, both the Illinois legislature and the New York State Comptroller took action in April of this year to restrict the use of placement agents.

Illinois Public Act 096-0028 (the “Act”) became effective June 30, 2009. The Act permits wind energy projects across Illinois to obtain exemptions from sales and use taxes by direct application to the state.

April 2009 saw the adoption of sweeping pension system reforms in Illinois and New York State that will have a significant effect on investment advisers, managers and consultants.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn rescinded controversial Executive Order No. 3 (2008), issued by former Governor Rod R. Blagojevich.