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                  US Senate Passes $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill

   by VOA News

   The U.S. Senate has passed a massive $1.1 trillion spending bill after
   several days of political maneuvering and the threat of a federal
   government shutdown if it failed to pass.

   The measure, passed late Saturday by a 56-40 vote, funds the government
   through the fiscal year.  The bill will now be sent to the White House
   where President Barack Obama has said he will sign it into law.

   Senator Ted Cruz, a freshman Republican from Texas with presidential
   aspirations, had demanded a vote on a proposal to cut funds from the
   bill that could be used for President Obama's executive order on
   immigration.

   However, the procedural maneuvering enabled Senate majority leader
   Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, to push through a slew of Mr.
   Obama's nominees for administration jobs and appointees for judicial
   positions who would have had a much more difficult time winning
   approval in January when Republicans take control of the Senate.

   While the bill provides funding for nearly the entire government
   through September, it only funds the Department of Homeland Security
   until February 27.  Republicans intend to try then to force the
   president to roll back his immigration policy that removes the threat
   of deportation from millions of immigrants living in the U.S.
   illegally.

   President Obama said Friday that the bill includes provisions he does
   not like, but that there are other parts that ensure progress would
   continue on health insurance, climate change, early childhood education
   and job growth.

   Senate Democrats also opposed major provisions, including one to roll
   back a prohibition in the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law.  The
   provision prohibits banks from engaging in certain types of derivatives
   trading blamed for the 2008 financial crisis.

   The 2015 spending package was approved by the House of Representatives
   Thursday.

   Saturday's Senate session came one day after the chamber passed a $585
   billion defense spending bill for 2015.

   Senators from both parties have hailed the bill, known as the National
   Defense Authorization Act .

   The funding includes nearly $64 billion for overseas operations,
   including in Afghanistan and Iraq.  It also authorizes spending for the
   fight against Islamic State militants, including the continued training
   and equipping of moderate Syrian rebels.

   Some information for this report came from Reuters, AP and AFP.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/congress-averts-government-shutdown-p
   asses-short-term-spending-bill/2556093.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/congress-averts-government-shutdown-passes-short-term-spending-bill/2556093.html