Treasury Secretary John Snow and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta have warned the Senate today that they will recommend a veto of any surface transportation reauthorization bill that raises taxes, relies on bond financing or draws money from the general fund. The veto threat, in the form of a letter addressed to Majority Leader Bill Frist reiterates points made earlier by administration officials, including President Bush. The Senate Finance Committee yesterday approved a $35 billion funding package that would transfer some liabilities from the Highway Trust Fund, which is funded by the gas tax, to the general fund. The Snow-Mineta letter said, "Highway spending should be financed from the Highway Trust Fund, not the general fund of the Treasury." All the money should be "derived from taxes imposed on highway use," the letter said.

The letter is located right here and is in pdf format.