File Photo: US President Barack Obama. (Reuters)
US President Barack Obama welcomed on Friday the approval of a compromise spending bill by the House of Representatives that helped avoid a government shutdown.
"Had I been able to draft my own legislation and get it passed without any Republican votes, I suspect it would be slightly different," Obama said with a smile before a White House meeting on the Ebola outbreak.
"I think what the American people very much are looking for is some practical governance and the willingness to compromise, and that's what this really reflects," he said.
The House of Representatives gave their approval Thursday night to a bill that extends federal operations until September.
The bill almost faltered at the last minute after it lost support from some Democrats, who were angered over financial deregulation measures that were inserted into the bill.
Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi spoke out against the bill and voted against it, contrary to Obama's position.
"There are a bunch of provisions in this bill that I really do not like," Obama said.
But Obama said the bill funds health care, climate change and education initiatives he thinks are important.
"And so, overall, this legislation allows us to build on the economic progress and the national security progress that is important," said the president, who picked up the phone to rally last-minute support for the bill.
"So I'm glad it passed the House and am hopeful that it will pass the Senate."
The Senate has until Saturday to vote on the bill and is expected to pass the measure.