Fight over public pensions to widen after Republican election gains

(Reuters) - Union-backed defenders of public pensions and their opponents expect their battle to expand to more states next year in the fight over U.S. entitlements after Tuesday's mid-term elections.

Despite defeat for a hotly contested ballot measure that sought to end traditional public pensions in Phoenix, a fight which drew millions of dollars in outside money, Republican gains in some state houses and governors' mansions mean the battle over public pensions will likely intensify.

Defenders of public pensions say they will be particularly focused on Colorado, Florida and Nevada, where they expect moves to reform pensions will gain steam after Republican gains on Tuesday.

"This fight is not going away," said Jordan Marks of the National Public Pension Coalition, a national union-funded group that seeks to protect public pensions. "There are a number of states, including Colorado and Nevada. We are looking at next year."

More