Senate passes huge spending bill, sends it to Obama

(MENAFN- AFP) Marking a truce after years of fiscal feuding in Washington, Congress passed a $1.1 trillion spending package Thursday that effectively ended the threat of an election-year government shutdown.The Senate voted 72 to 26 to approve the massive bill, in a show of bipartisanship after the House voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday for the measure to fund the federal government until September.The package now goes to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature.