President Barack Obama signed into law a measure ending the 16-day U.S. government shutdown and extending the nation’s borrowing authority until early next year, the White House said today in a statement. The measure was passed by wide margins in the House and Senate last night, ending a weeks-long fiscal stalemate between the Obama administration and Republicans in Congress. The bill passed on an 81-18 vote in the Democratic-led Senate, followed by a 285-144 vote in the Republican-controlled House. U.S. government workers are to return to their jobs today, the White House Office of Management and Budget said last ... (full story)