The Iowa House of Representatives passed a bill to lower the blood-alcohol level to .08 last Thursday, but the bill must be debated in the Senate before it is adopted.

Local representatives said they are in favor of changing the blood-alcohol level from the current .10 to a lower .08.

Rep. Jane Greimann, D-Ames, said the federal government issues highway repair funds based on the adoption of the lower blood-alcohol level.

“We would lose, over several years, about $47 million [in federal highway construction funds],” she said.

Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, R-Ames, said he thinks the bill was passed for financial reasons.

“I think that it’s regrettable that our primary response is due to funds from the federal government,” he said.

Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, said an amendment was added to lowering the blood-alcohol level that would give a work permit to people who lose their license for drinking and driving.

“It really is going to harm families,” she said. “If they can’t have the work permit they’re not going to get the jobs.”

Greimann said she believes the work permit amendment helped to get the bill passed in the House. “An amendment was added that made it more palatable to more people,” she said.

Heddens said she is in favor of the bill for its life-saving effects.

“I voted yes for the bill,” she said. “Any time you’re looking at saving a potential of 10 to 15 lives a year, I’m in favor of saving human lives.”

Greimann said she has always supported lowering the blood-alcohol level.

“It hasn’t passed before because people just have differing views of how much is too much when you drink,” she said.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said he is looking forward to the bill’s presentation in the Senate.

“It was considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member, and we passed it out without amendments,” he said.

Quirmbach said he predicts the bill will pass in the Senate when it is debated.

“My expectation is that it’s likely to go through,” he said.