October 25, 2008
The Hawk Eye
Smoking ban debated in Senate race
District 46 candidates disagree on collective bargaining, bottle bill.
FORT MADISON -- Democrats who voted in favor of the smoking ban often say it was enacted for the health of employees.
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Bottle bill
Though Gov. Chet Culver brought it forward, the Democratic majority did not debate his proposal to expand the deposit bill.
Fraise said he could have supported a penny or two more, but not a nickel more with less return.
Still, he said he favors keeping the law on the books.
"The merchants would like for it to go away completely, but that isn't going to happen," Fraise said. "It's a little inconvenient, but it works."
Fraise said in Denmark, the community collects their deposit bottles and cans together, takes them to Hope Haven for a return and saves the money to purchase fireworks for Independence Day.
"I think the general populace believes in recycling cans," Fraise said. "I think ... whether it was education in schools, that generation has come along and said, 'We don't want to trash our states or trash on our road sides.' "
Abolt said he favored recycling but he thinks expanding the bill is a mistake. He said the original bottle bill is inconvenient for residents.
"The litter is not an issue, I don't think," Abolt said. "There's litter, but five cents is probably not going to make the difference."
http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/d46-issue1-102508
