Article updated: 1/31/2013 9:57 PM

Congress sends Obama bill to raise debt ceiling

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The Senate Thursday passed must-do legislation Thursday to permit the government to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars more to meet its obligations, putting off one Washington showdown even as others loom in coming weeks.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Congress passed must-do legislation Thursday to permit the government to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars more to meet its obligations, averting a first-ever government default that had loomed as early as mid-February. The 64-34 vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate sent the measure to President Barack Obama, who has said he will sign it.