Republican lawmakers said hearings on Sylvia Mathews Burwells nomination provide a fresh opening to raise questions about PPACA.

Even though California teacher pensions - and therefore that debt - are guaranteed by the state, for accounting purposes the state treats that obligation as off its balance sheet, as if its not on the hook.

Memphis has underfunded its city- run pension plan since 2009, putting the cash toward its budget. Tennessee lawmakers want to attach a cost to that kind of scrimping on retirement expenses.

Improved fee disclosure could help individuals make better financial decisions and could also force a national conversation about how best to improve our retirement system.