Rocky's legislative agenda and how it fared

Rocky's agenda

1. Alcohol amendments — Anderson sought legislation to do away with the state's 600-foot rule, which bans private clubs from opening within 600 feet of a school, library or church. The law hampers the city's ability to relocate a charter school (the Salt Lake Arts Academy) downtown where many private clubs are located. Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City, agreed to run a bill that would get rid of the rule but later pulled it.

2. PhotoCop — The mayor wanted legislation giving cities the ability to install photo radar to catch red-light runners and speeders. Anderson said the legislation would slow drivers and save lives. Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake City, ran the bill, but it died in committee.

3. Bicycle safety — A bill requiring automobile drivers to give bicyclists a 3-foot berth passed but not until after being gutted by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo. Anderson, a longtime proponent of alternative-vehicle travel, like bicycles, had pushed for the legislation, which was again sponsored by McGee. Bramble offered a substitute bill that gave drivers the right to pass close to bicyclists as long as they weren't driving in a reckless manner.

4. No smoking — The effort to ban smoking in private clubs, which Anderson backed, passed the Senate by one vote but didn't pass the House.

5. Gun violence — Anderson wants sweeping gun law reform. His ideas included: legislation requiring gun owners to keep their weapons under lock and key, tougher juvenile gun laws, a statewide ban on assault weapons and legislation requiring better tracking of gun violence stats. No gun law reform bills were introduced.

6. Living wage — The mayor had wanted new legislation giving cities the authority to require city contractors to pay their employees a living wage. Instead, the Legislature passed a law stating that cities can't even consider contractor wages when awarding bids.

7. Sex education — The state's "abstinence-based" sex education programs aren't working, Anderson maintains. He wanted legislation reversing the state's abstinence leanings in favor of more safe sex education. No such legislation was introduced.

8. Health care — A legislative interim study looking at ways to provide health care for all Utahns never materialized. Anderson wanted the study to examine a way to provide universal health care in the state.