Gov. Sam Brownback’s support is keeping alive a proposal to start a 401(k)-style pension plan for new Kansas teachers and government workers as even fellow Republicans in the Legislature lose interest.

Public employee groups, their allies and increasingly skeptical GOP legislators have all but killed chances that Kansas will start a retirement plan similar to ones now common for private companies as a way of controlling the state’s long-term pension costs.

House and Senate committees are working on alternatives to a 401(k)-style plan.

But their work will amount to little if they don’t get Brownback on board, and he’s not backing away from his support for a 401(k)-style plan. The possibility of a veto is a powerful incentive for Republicans who control both chambers to return to the 401(k) fold.