Laurie's questions get to the true concerns about the current bottle law. There is a legislative committee working on dedicated funding for natural resources. They will make a presentation to the legislature this month, and then hopefully we will begin the process of considering an amendment to the Iowa Constitution for dedicated funding for natural resources (including the REAP program). If the Register is correctly stating Culver's plan, then we know how small he is thinking. Donna -----Original Message----- From: Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of laura belin Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 6:18 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Culver wants to double can and bottle deposit This Des Moines Register article is not that well-written. Does anyone know more details? http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS10/ 801120328/1001/NEWS Excerpt: Gov. Chet Culver said Friday that he will ask the Legislature to double the 5-cent deposit collected on bottles and cans, using a share of the new money to fund the state's centerpiece environmental program. Culver told the Associated Press during an interview that expanding the bottle deposit law and using the bulk of the proceeds to finance the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program would bring together two significant environmental efforts. Advertisement He called the environmental fund "one of the most successful environmental programs in the state's history" and said doubling the bottle deposit would continue its success. Under Culver's plan, grocery stores and other retailers that collect the 10-cent deposit would be allowed to keep a penny to cover the costs of handling returned bottles and cans, and 1 cent under the new rate would go to the environmental program. Consumers would get back 8 cents of their 10-cent deposit, said Culver spokesman Brad Anderson. ______ If I am reading this correctly, it means the governor does not want to double the amount retailers get to keep for handling the cans and bottles--does anyone know if that's correct? I thought it was pretty well agreed that handlers need to be able to keep two cents rather than just a penny, which is what they've gotten for the last 30 years. Also, I'm not clear on whether the governor would expand the bill to cover beverage containers that are not currently subject to the deposit. Anyone know? Do people think tying REAP funding to this would be on balance a good thing or a bad thing? Laurie Belin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp