Obama Signs Bill Averting Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed legislation that keeps the government running and averts a shutdown that could have happened this weekend.

The bill that Obama signed Saturday gives the lame-duck Congress two more weeks to try to pass a legislation funding the government for the rest of the budget year — through September.

If that fails, lawmakers will have to pass another temporary measure to fund agencies into next year, when Republicans will control the House.

The Democratic-controlled Congress hasn't passed a single annual spending bill. It's an unprecedented breakdown of the budget process.