Sen. Crapo Charged With DUI

Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, a vocal and visible proponent of ambulatory surgical centers, was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with driving under the influence in a Washington, D.C., suburb, police said.

Police in Alexandria, Va., said that the 3-term Republican was pulled over after his vehicle ran a red light. A police spokesperson said Sen. Crapo failed field sobriety tests and was arrested at about 12:45 a.m. He was transported to the Alexandria jail and released on an unsecured $1,000 bond at about 5 a.m. Police said Crapo, 61, who was alone in his vehicle, registered a blood alcohol level of 0.11 percent. The legal limit in Virginia is 0.08 percent.

Sen. Crapo faces a Jan. 4 court date. He has said he doesn't drink alcohol because of his Mormon faith.

In June 2011, Sens. Crapo and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with U.S. Reps. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and John Larson (D-Conn.), introduced the ASC Quality and Access Act of 2011. The act would change the ASC update factor from the Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U) to the more accurate Hospital Market Basket Index, thereby aligning updates for ASC services under a revised prospective payment system with updates for hospital outpatient department services.

"I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance," Sen. Crapo said in a statement Sunday night. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter. I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated."

Dan O'Connor