Congress relaxed pension rules to give companies a special two-year breather.

The complicated pension rules will force companies to report poorer results this year because last year's reality was so bad.

But under pension rules, police and fire employees could name domestic partners as beneficiaries only with the approval of county officials.

They're sending some signals about what a rewrite of the pension rules is going to look like.

Corporate lobbyists have sought changes in the 1986 pension rules for years.

But the United Methodists could set an example for others not subject to the federal pension rules.

But instead of charging more, the government has been waiving the pension rules, he said.

But even for employees who are in their 40's or older, the proposed pension rules do not necessarily mean a loss of retirement benefits.

The last time the accounting board considered rewriting the pension rule, in March 2003, a majority of the members voted against it.

"It's the only way you can change the pension rules," he said.