Congress passes spending bill

WASHINGTON — Congress cleared a $1.1 trillion spending bill for President Obama’s signature late Saturday night after a failed, largely symbolic Republican challenge to the administration’s new immigration policy.

The vote was 56-40 in favor of the spending measure, which funds nearly the entire government through the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year. It also charts a new course for selected shaky pension plans that cover

more than 1 million retirees, including the possibility of benefit cuts.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R.-Tex.) pushed the Senate to cast its first vote on the administration’s policy of suspending the threat of deportation for an estimated 4 million immigrants living in the country illegally. His bid lost, 74-22, but Republican leaders have vowed to bring the issue back after the party takes control of the Senate in January.