Stopgap spending measure clears Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress cleared a stopgap funding bill today to keep the federal government open into March, a temporary truce until Republicans and President Barack Obama rejoin the battle over the budget next year.

The bill was passed by the House this evening just hours after speeding through the Senate. Obama was poised to sign it by midnight to avoid a government shutdown.

The measure would freeze agency budgets at current levels. That's still too high for Republicans set to take over the House, who vow to cut many programs to levels in place when Obama took office. That will be difficult to achieve, even though Republicans will control the House and possess greater strength in the Senate.

The bill also would create hardship at the Pentagon and the Homeland Security Department, which will be denied funding increases until their budgets pass next year.