From Deseret News archives:

Measure to thwart Rocky stalls in Senate

Published: Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005 8:23 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
A bill intended to stop Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson from giving preference to companies that pay a "living wage" when it comes to contracts with the city stalled Tuesday in the Senate.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, the sponsor of SB139, moved to put his bill on hold while he checked out concerns that the bill could affect discussions between local government officials and companies that are looking for taxpayer assistance to relocate.

"What is says is they cannot even consider the minimum wage in their deliberations," Minority Whip Ron Allen, D-Tooele, said. "This bill goes way too far . . . It sets a mandate that takes a negotiating position off the table for our cities and towns."

Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, said the bill could create difficulties for other communities throughout the state. "We in Washington County, we just love going after Rocky," Hickman joked. But, he said, "some of us out in the far reaches of the universe feel the impact of what you're trying to do here and this creates some problems for us."

But it was Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley, who was most critical.

Story continues below
Mayne, the head of the Utah AFL-CIO, labeled the bill "corporate welfare" and said it's the latest effort at "bringing up that old hobgoblin, Rocky. 'If we don't like something, let's go get Rocky. It's Rocky's fault.' " Mayne said that while he and the controversial Salt Lake mayor do disagree on a number of issues, he's right this time.

"Let's think about people. Let's think about the ability of people to make a decent income," Mayne said.

Stephenson, the head of the pro-business Utah Taxpayers Association, said he was trying to stop Anderson and anyone else from circumventing the law, which sets the minimum wage at $5.15. He had pushed passage of legislation in 2001 that prohibits local governments from enacting living-wage laws — but it didn't prohibit cities from considering wage when awarding contracts.

The bill would, Stephenson has said, close what he has described as the "Rocky loophole."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Letters: Vegas should conserve

Las Vegas already conserves. You have to pay an arm and leg if you have a...

Congratulations to Mayor Becker for his work... truly breath taking after a...

12 Utes return to Texas

Please lose this game to enable the automatic BCS bids for the next two...

I personally don't understand why those who choose to live a gay lifestyle...

Am I correct in that this ordinance excludes churches, allowing them to...

Go get em Flyers!! Should be a great game.

What the gay activists fails to realise is it doesn't take into consideration...

It is great how the media wants you only to see what they want you to see.

"If we say one cannot discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or sexual...

House passes health care bill

"If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are...

Advertisements
Advertisement