Senate Backs $295 Bln. Highway-Spending Level

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enate Republicans joined Democrats Wednesday in rejecting a spending ceiling set by the White House for a six-year highway and mass-transit funding bill, news services reported.

The Senate voted 76-22 to allow an extra $11 billion above the to the House-passed $284 billion highway bill level, bringing the bill’s total to $295 billion, the Associated Press reported.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) attempted to rein in the bill by issuing budgetary points, but was voted down, AP said.

Some self-described conservative Republicans said they backed the higher spending measure, including Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

In all, 33 Republicans, citing the deterioration of the nation's roadways and the importance of the bill in generating jobs around the country, joined Democrats in supporting the higher spending level, AP reported.

The White House on Wednesday repeated its warning that President Bush would be advised to veto any highway bill that exceeded the $284 billion level, AP said.

The Senate hopes to pass the highway bill this week so it can go to conference with the House to resolve differences, AP reported. The latest temporary extension of the old bill runs out May 31.

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