Republicans and Democrats working on two versions of the highway and transit reauthorization bill face one crucial issue – money.

This week, members are under pressure to find a mutually agreeable funding level that both Congress and the Bush administration can support.

Sen. James Inhofe, R-OK, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and heads of the conference committee, has proposed a $318 billion spending level approved by the Senate.

But House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-TX, said the $318 billion didn’t add up.

“Instead of creating a fiscally responsible highway bill, the Senate is using it as a slush fund to rob other programs and raise taxes. It's not going to happen The Senate bill is begging for a veto,” DeLay said. “We must rely on more jobs and more economic growth to fund our highways, not new tax increases."

In response, Inhoff released a statement: "Having just read the news release of my dear friend of 18 years, I have concluded that he has not read the Senate Highway Reauthorization Bill. In his five paragraph release, not one of the statements is true, not one ... There are no 'tax increases' in the Senate bill. There is no 'fuzzy math' in the Senate bill. No other programs are 'being robbed' in the Senate bill. The ... bill contains no 'pork.' That is unprecedented in the history of transportation reauthorization bills. Lastly, this is the only highway bill that sticks to a formula."

Sen. Jim Jeffords, I-VT, the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works said it’s time to “tone down the rhetoric and get to work."

"Seventy-six senators voted for a highway bill that was not only funded at the right level, but funded in a fair and legitimate manner,” Jeffords said. “There has to be a sufficient level of investment to meet our transportation needs, make our roads and bridges safer and reduce congestion. It is time to tone down the rhetoric and get to work."

Sen. Kit Bond, R-MO, chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure said, "This bill is the most important economic development and job-creating bill in this session of Congress. The Senate bill does not increase the federal deficit one penny and is a strong bipartisan effort to provide for our nation's transportation needs. We need to get the job done now."

The fourth extension of the bill took effect at midnight June 30, extending programs until July 31. But as debate continues on funding levels, Congress is expected to begin its August recess July 26, giving members little more than three weeks to either finish the long-term bill or act on another extension.