Gregory Korte

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Obama signed a $1.1 trillion spending bill into law Tuesday night, keeping most of the federal government open through next September but the Department of Homeland Security only through February.

The short-term spending provision for Homeland Security was a protest by congressional Republicans, angered by President Obama's executive action last month delaying deportation for millions of undocumented immigrants. The short leash means that Congress will have to revisit the issue soon after a new Republican-controlled House and Senate take office in January.

The bill was opposed by both liberals and conservatives in Congress. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., complained that it didn't do enough to halt immigration actions he considers to be unconstitutional.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., protested a provision loosening regulations on federally insured banks trading in complicated financial derivatives. The spending bill did increase enforcement funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, however.

Still, the legislation was a bipartisan compromise that avoids a government shutdown and provides additional funding for military action against the Islamic State and to combat the spread of Ebola in western Africa.

The 1,600-page spending bill cleared the Senate late Saturday, but took another three days to be printed and sent to the president before the previous spending authority expired Wednesday.



Obama signed the bill without ceremony. Earlier Tuesday, he signed 31 other minor bills passed in the dying days of the 113th Congress. Those bills renamed post offices and Department Veterans Affairs facilities, allowed expedited passenger screening for veterans on "Honor flights," and awarding a congressional gold medal to golfer Jack Nicklaus.

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