In the latest installment of the Energy Metro Desk series "Drums along the Potomac," editor-in-chief John Sodergreen discusses, among other things, the upcoming Market Risk Advisory Committee meeting, CFTC Chair Timothy Massad's remarks focusing on end-users, and FERC's State of the Markets Report. Mr. Sodergreen discussed CFTC Commissioner Sharon Bowen's announcement regarding the membership of the CFTC Market Risk Advisory Committee, noting that two items on the agenda are: (i) current risk management techniques employed by derivatives clearing organizations to ensure that the appropriate

The House Financial Services Committee approved eleven bills which aim to relieve community banks and credit unions from certain regulatory requirements. According to the House Financial Services press release, since the enactment of Dodd-Frank, "big financial institutions have gotten bigger and small financial institutions have become fewer." The approved bills include: H.R. 299, the Capital Access for Small Community Financial Institutions Act. Sponsored by Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH): The bill would allow privately insured state chartered credit unions to apply for membership in the Federal

The North American Securities Administrators Association ("NASAA") announced it will hold its annual Public Policy Conference on April 14, 2015. Securities regulators from the United States, Canada, and Mexico will convene for panel discussions on capital formation and financial technology under the conference's theme, "Progress Through Innovation." See: NASAA Press Release; Conference Details and Registration Information.

The MSRB proposal to amend MSRB Rule A-16 regarding examination fees was published in the Federal Register. The proposal will increase the development fee for MSRB professional qualification examinations from $60 to $150. The MSRB previously issued a Regulatory Notice outlining the proposed fee increase. The increases are effective immediately, though comments on the proposal must be submitted by April 17, 2015. See: 80 FR 16485. Related news: MSRB Proposes to Amend Fees Charged for Qualification Examinations (Notice 2015-05) (March 18, 2015); SEC Approves MSRB Proposal to Create Professional

The MSRB proposal to amend the Rule G-14 ("Reports of Sales or Purchases") Real-Time Transaction Reporting System ("RTRS") Procedures and Subscription Services, was published in the Federal Register. The proposed rule change would: expand the application of the existing list offering price in Rule G-14 and RTRS takedown indicator to cases involving distribution participant dealers and takedown transactions that are not at a discount from the list offering price; eliminate the requirement for dealers to report yield on customer trade reports and, instead, enable the MSRB to calculate and