US House approves $1.1 trillion spending bill, averts shutdown

Facing intense pressure to avoid a government shutdown, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed a $1.1 trillion federal spending bill Thursday, sending it to the Senate after it was ushered through barely two hours before a midnight deadline. The 219-206 vote followed a bruising day of arm-twisting by the White House after dozens of Democrats revolted over pro-Wall Street and campaign-finance riders in the bill, dramatically splitting with President Barack Obama over the legislation that