SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE: IRS pension stall: Why, Mr. President?

The bad news keeps piling up for local governments in California bedeviled by surging pension costs. Last week, it was Los Angeles’ turn. Miguel Santana, chief administrative officer of the Golden State’s largest city, warned of ruin ahead without new revenue and reduced pension costs.

Yet hopes for relief from Sacramento are nonexistent. The Democrats who control the Legislature oppose the ambitious reform plan offered by Gov. Jerry Brown last fall for all public employees and vow to block all but minor changes.

So if the state can’t help local governments, is there something the federal government can do to help? Absolutely – and it is high time this issue became part of the presidential election campaign.

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