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Last year's drunk driving opponent proposes a .08 bill

January 27, 2000
By: Laetitia Thompson
State Capital Bureau

Drunk driving legislation received a surprise boost when last year's key opponent introduced a bill lowering Missouri's legal blood alcohol limit from .10 to .08.

Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Democratic Senator Harold Caskey killed similiar .08 legislation introduced by Republican Senator Morris Westfall last year.

Now Caskey has introduced a .08 bill meeting the bare requirements to receive federal highway construction money.

Caskey's bill competes with a stricter version Westfall introduced this year but Westfall says it's still a good sign.

Actuality:WEST2
RunTime: 10 sec
OutCue: "HE DOES THAT."
Contents: WESTFALL SAYS CASKEY'S BILL IS NOT AS STRINGENT BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET A .08 BILL ON THE BOOKS.

Unlike Westfall's .08 version...Caskey's bill would not necessarily make a .08 blood alcohol limit a felony.

From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.

In an unexpected move last year's prime opponent to lowering the blood alcohol content proposed a bill to the Senate decreasing the limit to .08.

Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Democratic Senator Harold Caskey killed a similiar bill introduced by Republican Senator Morris Westfall last year.

Now both Caskey and Westfall have offered drunk driving legislation.

Although Caskey's bill is not as strict as Westfall's version, Westfall says Caskey's bill makes him more optimistic.

Actuality:WEST5
RunTime: 15 SEC
OutCue: "CONSTRUCTION IN MISSOURI."
Contents: WESTFALL SAYS WE DON'T WANT .08 DRIVERS ON MISSOURI ROAD AND DO WANT TO KEEP FEDERAL DOLLARS ROLLING IN.

The federal government requires a .08 blood alcohol limit to receive all federal highway construction money.

This is Laetitia Thompson in Jefferson City.

In a suprise move, the key opponent to last year's drunk driving legislation has introduced a bill lowering the Missouri blood alcohol content limit from .10 to .08.

Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Last year Western Missouri Senator Harold Caskey killed a similiar .08 bill introduced by Senator Morris Westfall.

Westfall has tried again and introduced a competing .08 bill earlier this year but says both versions meet federal requirements.

Actuality:WEST3
RunTime: 19 SEC
OutCue: "IN THE STATE."
Contents: WESTFALL SAYS CASKEY IS MEETING THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT TO KEEP ALL THE FEDERAL MONEY FOR HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Unlike Westfall's .08 bill...Caskey's version doesn't necessarily make a .blood alcohol content a felony.

In Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.