1.   Competition in municipal finance has increased in the past few years as the amount of new securities sold fell.

2.   And now the Securities and Exchange Commission, in one of the most controversial cases in municipal finance, wants to hold some feet to the fire.

3.   And now the SEC, in one of the most controversial cases in municipal finance, wants to hold some feet to the fire.

4.   And, experts on municipal finance say, it is making Nassau a serious contender to be labeled the most fiscally irresponsible county in America.

5.   As part of the settlement, no other restrictions have been placed on the firms by the SEC in the conduct of municipal finance.

6.   As work of the settlement spreads through the municipal finance community, many are questioning whether ordinary public officials are up to the task of understanding financial documents.

7.   Being in municipal finance was a way of being in the private sector but feeding a desire to do public service.

8.   Before joining Fannie Mae, he was a general partner in municipal finance at the investment banking firm of Lazard Freres Co. in New York.

9.   Brown employees in its municipal finance business in the Southeast.

10.   Brown will cut back sales and trading of bonds with institutional investors and eliminate its fixed-rate municipal finance business.