Obama Signs Stopgap Bill to Fund U.S. Government Through Nov. 18

President Barack Obama signed a stopgap funding bill to keep the government operating through Nov. 18, the White House said in a statement.

The president's signature buys time for lawmakers to hammer out long-term funding for the 2012 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. Congress, divided over spending priorities, hasn't approved any of the bills required each year to operate federal departments and agencies.

The bill is H.R. 2608.