Obama signs two-year cross-party budget bill

[Gerald]

US President Barack Obama has signed a two-year bipartisan federal budget bill, averting the risk of a government shutdown in January.

The hard-fought legislation was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives earlier this month.

The bill had been drafted by a cross-party budget committee set up after October's 16-day government shutdown.

Mr Obama also signed a bill cracking down on a sexual assault in the military and six other bills.

He did so while holidaying in Hawaii at the end of the year that has seen a political gridlock over his signature healthcare law, the federal debt limit and issues ranging from immigration to gun control.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25523337

Obama wants off the ground, surely a "loudoff" for him in these agreements.

Note: 26 December 2013 Last updated at 22:29 GMT