Caledonia Argus

Senate finance committee passes bill to lower blood alcohol limits to .08

Posted: 5/13/03

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

A bill lowering the stateís DWI blood alcohol limit to .08 passed the Senate finance committee Tuesday, May 6, and is headed to the Senate floor.

Bill author Sen. Leo Foley, DFL-Coon Rapids, is optimistic the legislation can pass the full Senate.

ìI think we can,î said Foley. ìI hope the governor will come out and show his support of this,î he said.

Itís critical Gov. Pawlenty use his influence to gain support in the House, Foley explained.

While the .08 initiative advanced in the Senate, similar legislation in the House failed to gain a hearing.

Still, Rep. Steve Strachan, R-Farmington, believes passage of the bill in the House is just a matter of time.

One financial incentive to passing .08 is offered by the federal government.

Itís estimated that Minnesota stands to lose about $22.5 million in federal transportation dollars over the next two years if it fails to adopt .08.

Still, lawmakers have until Oct. 1, 2007, to recoup the loss in federal funding by passing .08.

After that time, the $22.5 million would permanently be lost.

Lost federal dollars become progressively larger in 2006 and 2007 if the state fails to act on .08. In 2006, Minnesota stands to lose nearly $20 million in federal transportation dollars.

The following year, the amount climbs to $26.5 million.

Although Foley told the committee he didnít believe there would be significantly more people arrested for DWI under .08, one local government association official opposed the legislation on basis of cost.

Keith Carlson, of the Metro Inter-County Association, said the accumulated affect of recent toughened laws have served to crowd county jails to capacity.

In Dakota County, some 60 to 80 inmates a day need to shipped to other facilities due to overcrowding, he said.

The counties cannot afford to handle the additional inmates passage of .08 would bring, Carlson argued.

A representative from the League of Minnesota Cities, though saying passage of .08 would fiscally impact counties more than cities, said the league supports passage.

Thirty-nine states, plus the District of Columbia, have adopted .08, said Foley.

The vote in the Senate finance committee was close, the bill initially voted down by a vote of 9 to 10.

But the legislation was eventually passed without recommendation 10 to 9 and sent to the Senate floor.

Senators Pariseau and Ourada voted against passage. Senators Knutson and Sen. Bob Kierlin (R-Winona) voted for passage.

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