Retired state workers and public school teachers are trying to salvage a small increase in their pension checks. They are urging state lawmakers to hold a veto session, to override Gov. Bobby Jindal’s rejection of the retirement hike.

But the idea is a long-shot. Lawmakers have never held a veto session under the current constitution, and it only takes a majority vote of either the House or Senate to scrap the session.

Jindal cited national credit rating agency concerns about retirement systems’ debt when he rejected the 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment bill. The measure would have given 135,000 retirees an average $30 monthly pension increase.

A decision on the veto session will come this week. Lawmakers have until midnight Thursday to return ballots if they want to cancel the session.