The House Judiciary Committee has voted 6-5 to kill a measure from its chairman, Rep. Jim Clark, to ban repeat drunken drivers from buying, possessing or consuming alcohol. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com. "I like this bill, and I like the direction it's going," said Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, "but there are still some unanswered questions." Luker said lawmakers should "work on it for another year." Clark, R-Hayden Lake, opened his presentation to the committee in part by saying, "Keep in mind, this is the first time around - so you'll probably see me again and again again. ... It should get better and better and then someday it could be ready."

Kevin Krieg, a Post Falls carpenter who ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in a GOP primary in 1998, said he brought the issue to Clark's attention after becoming increasingly concerned about repeat drunk drivers. "All we ever do is address the driving part," he said. "It's the drinking part that causes drunk driving." Clark offered a series of amendments to the bill, and several committee members said they wanted to try amending it and see if the concept could work, but the move fell short by one vote.  Clark said afterward, "I thought it was a good debate. ... I don't like losing, but I did get a lot out of it."

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