Op-ed by Kevin O’Conner, includes “As public pension managers look for a way out, they may turn toward the federal government for help. Any federal action to rescue already underfunded pension plans could incite political backlash since it would be seen as a bailout for ill-managed funds. Despite the political consequences, tahe scale of the problem may require federal intervention in cases that involve a state’s insolvency. If and when a bailout is given, the federal government will have the opportunity to make demands for meaningful reforms.”