Unions, local governments split on CA bankruptcy bill

The Sacramento Bee reports:

What started as a municipal bankruptcy in the city of Vallejo has morphed into an all-out fight between California's local governments and unions over the sanctity of labor contracts vs. the autonomy of cities and counties.

Next battle zone: the floor of the state Assembly, where legislation requiring local governments to get state approval to file for bankruptcy protection is headed for a vote later this week.

This won't be the last imbroglio spawned by the state's fiscal turmoil. But it is likely to be among the hottest.

The bill by Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, is sponsored by the California Professional Firefighters and supported by nearly three dozen labor organizations in the state and AARP – groups worried about labor contracts or pensions potentially being affected by bankruptcy filings.