BBB connotation BBB for most of us with links to the financial world means investment grade. It still means just that. But for the next few days leading up to July 4 it will translate to the Big Beautiful Bill. The pressure is on to get the bill passed but there is...

Cold Rolled Tariffs Amid the many tariffs proposals, discussions, pauses, and negotiations, the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum have been set at the 50% level. I am openly wondering what the effect will be on the many infrastructure projects underway and...

Slap happy tariffs Not since the slapping incident at the Oscars has a tariff been slapped on so quickly. The tariff on the Eurozone is more global in scope. It appears that we hit allies fairly hard with tariff levels. One observer in the Wall Street Journal pointed...

More SALT please Whether you call it a spice or a condiment, SALT has a major presence at the budget table. For those in high tax states, raising the cap to $30,000 from $10,000 only makes a marginal difference. Take the case of a married couple who both work filing...

Tariffs Patchwork Quilt The administration’s approach reminds me of the musical Candide. In this work, Dr. Pangloss is continuously reminding us that we live in the best of all possible worlds. This proclamation takes place while disease and other pestilences are...

Self Inflicted Pain Given the recent moves in the market there may not be much to celebrate except for somewhat higher yields on the bond side. If we were going to celebrate any significant event, we would not be doing it with champagne or Chateau Haut Brion. A 200%...

Zeal for Cuts and Tariffs The current zeal for cuts and tariffs is tantamount to a religious fervor. Yes, there are reasons offered for both policy choices. Cuts are being justified by the presence of rampant fraud and abuse. The consideration becomes cutting for the...

Rogue DOGE It is hard to recollect a time when just about everything that has an effect on municipals is either coming into question or is being fully reconsidered. We are in a market that is used to adapting to change; but, now the very fundamentals are being...

Trimming trees and budgets This time of year, we turn to experiencing good cheer and for some of us trimming trees. Yet, the holiday spirit is not enough to mask the underlying seriousness of cutting the federal budget according to principles espoused by the DOGE...