State Sen. Jim Sullivan is putting the finishing touches on changes to proposed drunken driving legislation that would pay for the reforms through increased assessments on criminals and higher fees for those who have their licenses suspended or revoked rather than a hike in the liquor tax.

Sullivan, D-Wauwatosa, said changes in the bill have helped cut the expected cost to the $15 million to $30 million range annually, compared to a prior estimate that it could cost as much as $70 million a year.

Sullivan said he has not discussed the alternative with Assembly sponsors. But he believes this version will be more palatable politically than the proposed liquor tax increase.

Assembly sposors of the legislation have said the proposed tax increase was a non-starter in that house. Sullivan and Senate Dems originally proposed the liquor tax increase after costs estimates for the reforms skyrocketed. Sullivan said lawmakers have to find a way to pay for the reforms.

"Liquor distributors and manufacturers are not responsible for the drunk driving problem," Sullivan said. "The citizens of Wisconsin, each and every one of us are responsible for this problem. We did not want to single out a singe entity. But it is important if we're going to pass meaningful legislation that we have to fund that."

Sullivan's office said the exact language of the compromise bill was still being hammered out. It was expected the assessment on all criminals would be increased from $20 to $164, while there was likely to be an increase for the fee on suspended and revoked licenses in the neighborhood of $60.

Rep. Mark Pocan, the co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, said lawmakers are still waiting for new information from the Department of Corrections and the Legislative Fiscal Bureau about the costs of the proposal. But he said a lower fiscal estimate is expected due to some tweaks made to the reforms.

"We think there's a lower fiscal estimate and through some various surcharges we can cover the cost," Pocan, D-Madison, said.

Pocan said the removal of a liquor tax increase from consideration is "in the right direction" and he's hopeful the bill can pass the JFC Tuesday and get through the Legislature Thursday, the last floor day of the fall session.

-- By JR Ross and Greg Bump