House passes tax bill tonight

WASHINGTON (AP)

The House has given final approval to a bipartisan bill that will avoid a scheduled rise in income taxes for millions on Jan. 1.

The vote was 277-148 late Thursday on the legislation, which is the result of a compromise between President Barack Obama and top Republicans.

The bill also cuts Social Security taxes for nearly every wage earner in 2011, and renews a program of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed.

The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday.