OK of 0.08 for drunken driving expected
0:50 AM 7/01/03
Scott Milfred State government reporter

The leader of the state Senate predicted passage today of a bill that would lower Wisconsin's drunken-driving standard and secure millions in federal highway aid.

Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer, R-West Bend, also expected approval of an amendment to the bill, AB 88, making sure commercial drivers can't erase drunken-driving convictions after 10 years.

Because of the amendment, the state Assembly plans to meet Wednesday to agree to the change. The bill would then head to Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, who has said he will sign it.

Panzer and Assembly Speaker John Gard, R-Peshtigo, are calling the Republican-run Legislature into "extraordinary session" to deal with the bill because lawmakers are on summer break. The extra session should cost the state several thousand dollars in expense payments for lawmakers to travel to the Capitol.

But by adopting the bill before July 15, state leaders will make the state eligible for $2.8 million in federal incentive grants. The state also can avoid losing $8 million in additional federal money next year and $16 million the following year.

The bill would lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent. First-time offenders convicted of driving with blood alcohol levels below 0.10 percent but above 0.08 percent would receive less punishment and can erase single convictions after 10 years if they were not commercial drivers.

Panzer had refused to vote on the bill last week while the Senate was still in session because she wasn't convinced she had enough Democratic votes for the bill to pass. Republicans control the Senate 18-15, but not all Republicans support the measure.

Panzer said Democratic leaders recently assured her that Democrats will help move the bill forward.

Some lawmakers oppose the bill because, they say, it comes too close to punishing social drinkers and does little to get habitual offenders off the road.