Senate Leaders Reach Highway Bill Agreement

Democratic and Republicans leaders reached agreement Wednesday clearing the way for a Senate vote on passage of a $109 billion federal highway bill, the Associated Press reported.

The Senate will begin considering amendments on Thursday and a vote could come as soon as Thursday night, although it is action is likely to continue into next week, AP said.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (R-Nev.) plans to send the bill to the House, where GOP leaders have been struggling to gain enough votes to pass their own five-year highway bill, AP reported.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) warned rank-and-file Republicans at a closed-door meeting Wednesday that if they do not act quickly to pass their own bill, he will bring the Senate bill to the House floor for a vote, AP reported, citing lawmakers who attended the meeting.