Source: International Herald Tribune 
Pubdate: 20 May 1998
Contact:  
Website: http://www.iht.com/

CONGRESS WATERS DOWN DRUNKEN-DRIVING RULE

WASHINGTON---Congressional negotiators say they rejected a tough new 
national standard for drunken driving to reach agreement on a $200 
billion transportation bill, a move that was immediately denounced by 
highway safety groups as a capitulation to the liquor lobby.

Congressional leaders had expressed concern that a protracted battle 
over the issue would stall passage of the overall bill, which Congress 
is rushing to complete this week, and delay essential road, bridge and 
mass transit programs around the country.

The transportation bill represents one of the largest public works 
plans in history, calling for spending $167 billion over the next six 
years on highway projects and about $33 billion on mass transit 
programs. Negotiators for the House and Senate must still work out the 
complex formulas that will dictate how the transportation funds will 
be allocated among states.

The announcement Monday on the drunken driving measure marked the 
culmination of weeks of intense lobbying pitting such groups as 
Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Clinton administration against 
restaurant owners and beer wholesalers, in what one congressional 
official called "deep emotions versus deep pockets."

The negotiators rejected a Senate plan to withhold highway funds for 
states that did not enact the new standard in favor of a House version that 
would provide more money for those that do. (NYT)

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