By Glen Johnson
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, June 10, 1998; 3:26 a.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton lauded Congress as he signed the nation's new $203 billion highway bill, then said he hoped the bipartisanship could continue on other matters such as school and tobacco legislation.

``The public expects us to work out our differences on this legislation and on other important bills,'' Clinton said Tuesday. ``The public expects us to act as parents, not politicians.''

The bill-signing ceremony could hardly do anything other than bring out smiles and prompt talk of collegiality.

Over the next six years, the federal government will spend $167 billion improving, widening and extending its highway system. It will spend another $36 billion improving mass transit systems.

Many of the groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings will take place this summer and fall, just as congressional re-election battles begin in earnest.

``It meets the challenge of building the pathways for the future, while maintaining the fiscal discipline that allowed us to achieve the first balanced budget in 29 years and an accompanying very high rate of economic growth,'' Clinton said as a group of hard hat -toting construction workers stood behind him.

People who drive on North Dakota Highway 13 should see the changes as soon as July 1. The state plans to spend $2.3 million -- part of its $171 million annual allocation -- repaving the stretch from Gwinner to Wyndmere.

``You have tremendous costs trying to link rural communities and keep up farm-to-market roads,'' said a thankful Gov. Edward T. Schafer, one of those in attendance for the signing ceremony. ``We have people driving 60 miles to get a prescription.''

Motorists provide the money for the work every time they fill their gas tanks. The federal government adds a tax of 18.4 cents to every gallon, and the money that is collected is deposited in the Highway Trust Fund.

In 1990, the government started using some of that money to mask the size of the budget deficit; but under the terms of the bill passed last month by the House and Senate, future gas tax collections will have to be spent exclusively on highway and mass transit projects.

Clinton, who received a sermon-like introduction from Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, joked to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and the other members of Congress in attendance that he thought the secretary was going to conclude by passing a collection plate.

``Then I realized that you had already given him all the money,'' the president said, prompting an eruption of laughter.