US House Passes $1.1 Trillion Budget Bill

Hours before government was due to shut down until September 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a massive $1.1 trillion budget.

After President Barack Obama requested the Democrats to support the budget, the House passed the budget with 219 representatives voting in favour of the spending bill, and 206 voting against it.

The Democrats were visibly disappointed in the President for his call to support the Republicans' bill. Only 57 Democrats voted for the bill, while 67 Republicans rejected it.

Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi saying she was "enormously disappointed" at Obama's position.

"We don't like lobbying that is being done by the president or anybody else that allows us to... give a big gift to Wall Street," said Democrat congresswoman Maxine Waters, BBC reports.

The passing of the bill means that additional finances will be allotted to the government for its functioning. The department of Homeland Security will get funds only until February, mostly because the Republicans are strongly against President Obama's immigration reforms.

According to the bill, domestic spending will largely be flat, while additional funds will be allotted to the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and also to contain the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.   

 The approved budget is expected to fund most the government's functions until September 2015, but some areas might receive short-term funding.

John Boehner, the Republicans' House leader, concluded by wishing: "Thank you and Merry Christmas." The republicans won control of both the House as well as the Senate in last month's elections.

The budget bill will now be passed by the Senate after which it will be sent to the President to be signed turning it into a law.