DES MOINES --- A plan to expand the state's bottle deposit program won't advance in time to make this week's legislative deadline, Democrats said Tuesday, signaling the proposal is in jeopardy.

The bill, which would add water, tea, juice and sports drink bottles to Iowa's nickel deposit program, has stalled because Democrats haven't agreed on the plan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said.

"The odds are still even or better we'll have some sort of expansion, but there's not yet consensus to move that bill forward," McCarthy said.

Gov. Chet Culver first proposed a vast expansion of the state's bottle bill in January. When lawmakers didn't embrace that version, it was scaled down to its current form.

The House Environmental Protection Committee approved the current draft March 3.

Since then, lawmakers have not called the bill for debate or a vote.

That means it is nearly impossible for the bill to make the Legislature's self-imposed "funnel deadline," when most bills must clear one chamber and advance out of committee in the other to remain viable.

The governor said Tuesday the bill remains one of his administration's priorities and that he's optimistic lawmakers will push it forward.

"I'm pleased that we made the first funnel deadline. I hope and expect we'll make the second one on Friday," Culver said.

Expanding the types of containers covered by the state's deposit program would put millions of containers ordinarily destined for landfills to recycling centers, proponents estimate.

The bill also would increase the per container handling fee redemption centers receive.

But opponents have said the bill would unduly burden Iowans by requiring them to carry more recyclables to redemption centers. They've predicted that increasing the volume of recyclables brought to redemption centers will destroy some cities' curbside recycling programs. Others have speculated that the deposit would drive up the cost of beverages.

Should the plan garner more backers in the coming weeks, McCarthy said he'll offer the expansion in the form of a leadership bill, which doesn't have to meet the same funnel deadlines others do.

But that seems improbable, given that Democrats aren't united on the issue.

"If it doesn't pass this week, it's pretty unlikely we'll be able to pass it at all," said bottle bill backer Rep. Donovan Olson, D-Boone.

Contact Whitney Woodward

at (515) 243-0138 or

whitney.woodward@lee.net.

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/03/26/news/metro/10225518.txt