Obama Flies Back to Hawaii After Warning GOP on Spending

President Barack Obama departed the White House on Tuesday to resume his Hawaii vacation about an hour after Congress approved legislation that raises taxes on the wealthiest Americans and avoids the fiscal cliff of tax increases and spending cuts.

The president left the White House shortly before midnight. He had cut his vacation short on Wednesday to oversee negotiation of a deal before a year-end deadline.

Before he left to rejoin First Lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters, Obama took the time to warn Republicans to avoid a repeat of last year's divisive fight with Congress over an extension of the nation's borrowing authority.

"While I will negotiate over many things, I will not have another debate with this Congress about whether or not they should pay the bills they have already racked up," Obama said in remarks in the White House.

He urged "a little less drama" in coming budget talks about cutting government spending.