WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he’s grateful to Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate and House for passing a deal to end the partial government shutdown and avert a default. It easily cleared the Senate with bipartisan vote of 81 to 18. The 18 who voted `no’ were all Republicans.
The House voted 285 to 144. The bill now moves to the White House. The president says he’ll sign the bill immediately. The measure calls for opening the government through Jan. 15 and extending the nation’s borrowing authority through Feb. 7.
