1.   He said he hoped a new highway bill could be passed by Easter.

2.   Biers -- TRANS. Possible story on highway bill.

3.   Biers MASSACHUSETTS -- TRANS. Massachusetts gets a boost under the latest version of the highway bill.

4.   Beyond that, Congress has already approved a massive highway bill that many members believe has used up the little discretionary money they had.

5.   Biers -- TRANS. Lawmakers from the Northeast raise the rhetorical stakes on reauthorization of a key highway funding bill.

6.   - The latest highway appropriations bill includes a mandate for the states to enact zero-tolerance measures against teenagers caught drinking and driving.

7.   A Detroit-to-South Carolina route would receive high priority to become an interstate highway under the national highway bill being debated in the Senate.

8.   A similar highway bill passed the Senate in June.

9.   Bryant CONNECTICUT -- TRANS. Lawmakers from the Northeast raise the rhetorical stakes on the battle over rewrite of a key highway funding bill.

10.   But in four cloture votes, Democrats held firm and turned back efforts to end the filibuster and advance the highway bill.