Watts said he will work to get federal transportation money for Capitol dome

Watts said he planned to talk to the next chairman of the House Transportation Committee about it.

"I think we're probably looking at the (next) Congress -- early on in the (next) Congress, I think we'll get it worked out," Watts said.

Watts, R-Okla., said it wouldn't be the first time the federal money was used for such a project.

"There is a precedence for that, and those dollars are available for that purpose, for that type of project," he said.

The Federal Highway Administration has twice turned down a request from the Oklahoma Transportation Commission to use up to $3 million on building the state's new Capitol dome.

State Transportation Secretary Neal McCaleb asked Watts and Sen.

Don Nickles to get the funding approved.

McCaleb has argued that building a dome -- a project initiated by Keating -- qualifies for transportation "enhancement" funds that are used for such projects as welcome centers, railroad depots and other roadside attractions.

The money comes from a separate pot than the one used for highway and bridge work. The state gets about $12 million a year for the projects.

Nickles apparently has not taken an official position on McCaleb's request. An aide said the senator would review the information as provided by Watts.

McCaleb's proposal has triggered its share of negative comments, even from some fellow Oklahoma Republicans who believe "transportation" funds should not be spent on the dome project.

At one time, Watts conceded that he also had concerns.

But after talking to staff and House Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster, R-Pa., Watts said he came away assured the dome project qualified.

Watts also said he hoped Congress would give final approval to $3 million to design the proposed Oklahoma Weather Center in Norman.

More than two months after the deadline for passing a budget, lawmakers are struggling with a few remaining spending bills. The weather center money is in one of those bills.

Watts said the bill containing the center's funding should be passed in the lame-duck session that may continue into next week.

The state-of-the-art weather center would house the University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology and top research specialists. The $3 million pending in Congress is for the design work.