One week after the U.S. Senate passed a transportation bill that would cost $62 billion more than the administration's proposal, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said President Bush would veto any bill that would increase the deficit or take money away from other projects, The Associated Press reported.

Funding under the administration's plan would increase spending by 21 percent nationwide. Meanwhile, the House Transportation Committee has sought $375 billion, a price tag that Mineta called "veto bait" for the president.

"President Bush is prepared to veto any transportation bill that would raise gas taxes, increase federal deficits or take money for other important projects to pay for road projects," Mineta said.

Mineta said Wednesday that the administration cannot change the funding formula put together by Congress, but said the "Senate missed an opportunity to show spending restraint."