SACRAMENTO Wilson to Consider Conflicting Drug Bills

Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

Sacramento

The Legislature yesterday sent Governor Pete Wilson one bill
that would suspend driver's licenses for anyone convicted of
drug offenses and a second that would tell Washington that
California opposes such a law.

For weeks, passage of the bills was blocked as lawmakers
were frozen by their contradictory views: Should they be
tough on crime? Should they oppose mandates from Washington?
Or should they show their libertarian views on drug use?

In the end, they did a little of each and went for the
big money. Passage of the contradictory bills will allow
California to receive nearly $100 million in federal highway
aid.

One bill by Assemblyman Larry Bowler, RElk Grove, would
require a sixmonth license suspension for any drug offense
unless a judge found the action would cause an economic or
medical hardship.

The second by Senator Quentin Kopp, independentSan
Francisco, would declare that the state opposes enacting a
licensesuspension statute as demanded by the federal
government.

``This compromise is a win win,'' said Bowler, a former
deputy sheriff. ``It keeps our strong anti drug message on
track, yet cuts the strings of the federal mandate.''

A spokesman for Wilson said the governor would sign both
measures.

The situation was created by a 1990 federal mandate that
requires states to enact either a sixmonth license
suspension law or a statute saying they do not want a such a
law.

Failure to take one step or the other could cost the state
federal highway money, and federal officials have withheld
about $93 million from California.

The state had enacted short term license suspension laws.
The last expired on March 1. Backers of the Kopp bill said
drug offenses unrelated to driving should not force a
license suspension. Supporters of the Bowler bill, including
Wilson, wanted another suspension law.

After the standoff, a deal was struck to allow passage of of
both bills.

The Bowler bill will keep a suspension law until July 1,
1999. Supporters of such a law could try to reenact it
but without the pressure of the federal mandate, which was
relieved by the Kopp measure.

A9 The Chronicle Publishing Company