U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-IL, and House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young, R-AK, are looking at a two-year, $90 billion transportation bill that might break the deadlock over how to fund a six-year bill, according to news sources.

Specifically, the $90 billion bill would serve as a "trigger mechanism," giving House members another crack in two years to seek funding that's higher than what either the Senate or the White House wants.

The Senate last month passed a $318 billion bill, and President Bush has said he'd veto anything over $256 billion. Young's committee earlier approved a six-year, $375 billion measure.

Young, speaking to the Anchorage Daily News, said: "My desire to have a two-year bill, frankly, is to rewrite a bill after the election … and put the user fee in place so we can do the job that's necessary.”

The White House has said it will veto any transportation bill that raises money through increased fuel taxes, which Young calls user fees.

Meanwhile, some House members worry that the Bush administration is looking to veto any transportation bill that comes in higher than its $256 billion version in part to prove its resolve to hold down tax increases.

Young and Hastert reportedly have been meeting on a regular basis to iron out a compromise.