Congress Approves Temporary Budget Bill, Avoids Shutdown
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The U.S. Congress approved a budget bill that will prevent a government shutdown for now while lawmakers negotiate over Republican demands to further cut federal spending this year.
The Senate voted 91-9 to send the measure to President Barack Obama, who signed it this afternoon. The bill, which reduces spending by $4 billion, passed the House yesterday by a 335-91 vote. Current government spending authority would expire March 4 and the legislation extends that to March 18.