This short article was included in the Legislative Briefs section of this morning's Des Moines Register:
DNR chief optimistic on bottle plan's fate
Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Richard Leopold insisted Tuesday that Gov. Chet Culver's proposal to expand Iowa's bottle deposit law had life, despite majority Democrats saying it's unlikely to pass the Legislature.
"It's something that Governor Culver believes very strongly in," Leopold said at a Capitol news conference. "I would like to keep discussing this in the public forum. I really think the public wants it."
Culver, a Democrat, said last week that he would continue to call for expanding the list of drink containers included in Iowa's 30-year-old recycling deposit law, even after leaders in the Democrat-controlled Legislature said they don't believe there is enough support to pass the measure.
Leopold was joined at the event by representatives of the League of Women Voters, the Sierra Club and redemption center operators, who support the expansion.
Neila Seaman Director Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 [log in to unmask] 515-277-8868