             }
         }
 
-        distributeWidth(targetWidth, targetHeight, containerHeight);    
+        var excessWidth:Number = distributeWidth(targetWidth, targetHeight, containerHeight);
         
         // default to top (0)
         var vAlign:Number = 0;

    }
    
    //----------------------------------
    //  verticalAlign
    //----------------------------------



                sizeLayoutElement(childInfo.layoutElement, height, verticalAlign, 
                                  restrictedHeight, childSize, 
                                  variableColumnWidth, cw);
                spaceToDistribute -= childSize;
            }
        }
        return spaceToDistribute;
