LOWER BAC PROPOSAL DRAWS CRITICISM

Missouri's congressional delegation expressed mixed reaction to a proposal to toughen national standards for determining drunken driving, while local law enforcement personnel and prosecutors said they favor the idea.

Some lawmakers decried the proposal as yet another example of federal government intrusion in matters that were better left to the states.

The plan calls for setting an .08 percent blood-alcohol content as the threshold for drunken driving. On Tuesday, President Clinton gave his support to the stricter limit and to a proposal in the Senate that would compel states to lower their limits by threatening them with loss of federal transportation funds for non-compliance.

Missouri is one of 35 states with a threshold of .10 percent. Illinois uses the stricter .08 percent to constitute drunken driving.

The proposal -- known as the Lautenberg Amendment after its chief sponsor, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. -- passed the Senate Wednesday by a 62-32 margin.

The Missouri senatorial contingent split in their support of the bill. Sen. Christopher Bond voted for the measure, and Sen. John Ashcroft voted against it. Both are Republicans.

"Drunken driving is a national problem that demands a national solution," Bond said.

Steve Hilton, a spokesman for Ashcroft, said Ashcroft agrees with the need to combat drunken driving, but the senator believes Missouri and other states are more competent at making such decisions.

Hilton termed the effort by the president as "too much meddling by the federal government." He would not say whether Ashcroft endorses the idea of lowering the blood-alcohol level, but said the decision should be left up to each state.

"There is no lack of knowledge and common sense at the state level," Hilton said.

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri's 8th District said the issue of drunken driving is "definitely an issue that has to be addressed in the beltway," but said her office is doing its best to return the power of decisions to the states.

Legislation similar to that which passed the Senate has been introduced in the House. Emerson said she will consider the issue.

State legislators, who face seeing Missouri's federal transportation funds cut if blood-alcohol standards aren't toughened, expressed mixed reactions to the proposal.

Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, was the most vocal in her support of the tougher standards.

"The intent is admirable, because other states that have lowered the percentage of alcohol have realized a decrease in the number of accidents. When that occurs, we all tend to benefit," she said.

State Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said he opposes the tougher standards, and that it probably will be one of the most unpopular stands he has ever taken.

Kinder said public awareness and stricter enforcement have resulted in a dramatic drop in drunken driving in the last 15 years, but the .08 percent standard goes too far.

"I am not persuaded based on the evidence I have seen that we need to go the additional increment," Kinder said.

State Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston is not happy with the idea of a federal mandate. He said the decision ought to be left up to state and local governments.

Heckemeyer said: "The federal government says you do this or we'll punish you by withholding money. What makes me mad is that it is our money to begin with. The federal government taxed us to get it."

He said if the bill passes Congress he will have no choice but to support it so that Missouri doesn't lose federal transportation dollars.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle endorses the .08 percent standard. "For a long time I have felt that the blood-alcohol standard should be lowered," Swingle said.

"We have several cases a year here where, by the actions of the person, he appears to be under the influence, but his blood alcohol shows the level to be between .08 and .10. There is no doubt he is a danger," he said.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Rick Hetzel agreed, calling the lower standard "appropriate."

"One of the problems in DWI cases is that most people don't realize the impairment that exists when a person's blood-alcohol level reaches .08," Hetzel said.