"I'm disappointed they didn't do that," said Huntsman on Wednesday. "It would have been good for both traditional and non-traditional relationships."

Still, lawmakers sidestepped some sticky issues, as well.

They did not authorize loaded firearms to be carried in cars (unless the operator already has a concealed weapons permit).

They did not repeal Utah's no-fault divorce law.

And there was no action on abortion.

As cash flowed, state workers got 2.5 percent pay raises, with other money put aside for bigger raises for higher education workers and others whose salaries have fallen well below market values.

But state workers were angered over a change in how their sick leave is handled, with the possibility that a number of veteran employees will take early retirement this year before the new rules take effect.

A bunch of new buildings — including rebuilding the University of Utah's Marriott Library — will be constructed.

As lawmakers rushed to finish their work Wednesday night before the required adjournment, some of the following issues were being decided:

• They passed a bill barring local governments from giving preferential treatment to contractors paying more than the minimum wage. SB139, sponsored by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, could save taxpayer dollars, but critics said it stepped on local decisionmaking, and was another slap in the face to Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, who advocates what he calls "a living wage."

• They were debating a complicated convention center funding bill that likely will require Salt Lake County to raise its hotel room tax by 1.25 percentage points to pay for the Salt Palace expansion, which is already underway.

• They were arguing whether private clubs should be smoke-free.

• Last-day funding decisions also pushed bits of money here and there, including: $25,000 to the Huntsman Summer Games (the games are named after the governor's family because of private financial support, but the family does not run the games); $50,000 for archaeological studies in Range Creek; $10,000 for the Shakespeare Festival; $253,000 for two roadless area coordinators.

---

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com