Wisconsin Governor Candidates Disagree on Drunken Driving Offense

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke disagree over whether to criminalize first-offense drunken driving.

Wisconsin is the only state in the country where first-offense drunken driving is treated like a traffic offense, not a crime.

Burke said during Friday’s second and final debate that she supports making first offenses a misdemeanor, saying “We have to take a tougher stance on this.”

But Walker opposes that. He says the focus instead should be on toughening penalties for repeat offenders.

The debate in Milwaukee is the second and final time Burke and Walker will square off before the Nov. 4 election.