in the country is reeling from the recession, 46 states facing budget shortfalls, this year, topping the list is california. and it is a whopper in california. staring down a $21 billion budget gap, and now a push to get their fiscal house in order is meeting stiff resistance from unions. william lajeunesse is on the story, live in l.a. good morning. >> reporter: you know, lawmakers made these contracts with unions that were entirely unsustainable. how about a lifetime of free health care, after just five years of work, or, retiring at 60 with 90% of your salary, now as lawmakers try to unwind those deals unions are saying, no. >> it feels like a penalty when you have given your life and career to the university... >> reporter: across california public employees fight to protect their generous union pensions. >> the pension benefits for uc workers for the last 20 years have been 100% funded by taxpayers. the employees have not paid