Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate said late May 19 they resolved a dispute that had blocked a six-year highway and transit bill, The New York Times reported.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle said they had come to terms on appointing senators who will work with their counterparts in the House to resolve differences in the bills, the paper reported.

Senate Democrats have blocked the naming of negotiators until they received assurances they would be partners in writing the final bill.

The Senate has approved a $318 billion package and the House a $284 billion bill, but the White House has said both are too expensive. The latest extension of the old bill runs through the end of June.

The last six-year highway bill, funded at $218 billion, expired last September, and Congress has had to approve three temporary extensions.