So, the same dynamics as federal vs. state?
Not at all. The “creature theory” applies to state/local government dynamics. Local government exists to serve the interests of the state. Home rule charters affect some of this, but that is limited.
Federal/state government relations are controlled by the supremacy clause, which has limited application. States have plenary power to govern, the feds have only limited power. The problem is that the federal government has become so damn big with attaching strings to its funding tentacles that we see things like no chocolate chip cookies in schools because of an IDEA grant. That is abusive, and the GOP wants to break those ties in the most part. Lots of resistance to that limitation from the left.
