The U.S. Senate was expected to vote by the end of this week on highway legislation, which could face a presidential veto if passed.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan told the media that President Bush’s senior advisors have recommended a veto if Congress does not “show spending restraint.”

“You’ve heard the President talk about the importance of funding our priorities and holding the line on spending elsewhere in the budget, in the non-defense, non-homeland security areas,” McClellan said. “And that includes highway legislation as well.”

Senators voted 86-11 to end a Republican filibuster on the six-year, $318 billion bill that funds highway construction and mass transit. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist had filed a cloture motion, which is the process allowing a filibuster in the Senate to be ended other than by unanimous agreement.

Bush’s proposed a $256 billion bill, while a $375 billion bill stalled in the House.

Earlier this week, House members voted unanimously to pass an extension of the programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, pending enactment of a law reauthorizing the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.

Those programs include highway construction and safety programs.

The extension funds programs another four months. Congress passed a funding extension last fall that will end Feb. 29.