Iowans call change in drunk driving standard Federal blackmail

Iowa’s drunken driving law soon will be tougher. The Iowa Senate yesterday gave final legislative approval to a bill that sets the blood alcohol standard at point-oh-eight and the Governor will sign it into law. But some lawmakers objected to what they termed federal blackmail on the issue. If Iowa doesn’t have a point-oh-eight law, it will lose millions in federal highway construction money. Senator Dennis Black, a democrat from Newton, says that’s extortion. Black says “it’s the federal government saying ‘You shall do this, or we’re going to spank your bottom.'” Senator David Miller, a republican from Batavia, says lives will be ruined because more Iowans will be picked up for drunken driving. Miller says the law will make more innocent people into criminals.