GOP Rejects Bottle Deposits, Soda Tax

DENVER (AP) - Colorado Republicans were firmly on the side of soft drinks Wednesday, rejecting a bill to add a bottle deposit while voting to repeal sales taxes on soda.

Separate committees in the GOP-led House took up soda-related measures. The proposed 5-cent bottle deposit was rejected after lawmakers heard hours of testimony from trash bag-toting schoolchildren. Republicans argued the deposits could cost jobs.

And another committee approved a bill to repeal last year's decision to add sales taxes to carbonated beverages, including diet drinks. The Republican sponsor says the 2.9 percent tax is an unfair burden when other unhealthy foods remain tax-free. The soda tax repeal would save taxpayers some $12.3 million next year.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)