On September 7, the SEC announced plans to hold a series of field hearings to examine the municipal securities markets, starting on September 21 in San Francisco.  Topics will include disclosure and transparency, credit ratings, and internal controls.  A panel of individual and institutional investors will also share their experiences in the market.  After the hearings, the SEC will release a staff report containing information learned as well as recommendations for regulatory changes, industry “best practices”, and any legislative changes. SEC Release.