Congress passes bill to fund government through December 18

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A temporary measure that would keep the U.S. government running through December 18 cleared Congress on Thursday, giving lawmakers more time to work on spending bills for the current fiscal year.

The measure now heads to the White House for President Barack Obama to sign into law, presumably before current government funding runs out on November 1.

It was attached to a $32.24 billion bill that increases the Environmental Protection Agency's budget by 26 percent. FULL STORY