The nation's largest public pension fund lowered its forecast Wednesday for investment returns and asked the state of California, school districts and local governments to increase contributions a move that could siphon more money from basic services.

South Carolina's House will consider a bill requiring newly hired employees to work an additional two years to collect full retirement benefits, while current employees could still retire after 28 years.

Nearly 2,000 union members demonstrated in Albany on Tuesday to urge lawmakers to block New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to cut the taxpayer cost of pensions for future public workers.

The judge threw out a lawsuit brought by teachers, police officers, firefighters and public workers challenging a law that requires them to pay more for their pensions and health benefits.