President Barack Obama signed legislation into law early Wednesday that will keep the federal government funded through November 18, the White House said. The measure, called the “Continuing Resolution Act, 2012,” ends the latest threat of a government shutdown. The new legislation is part of a deal to extend an additional $2.65 billion in disaster relief needed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to replenish coffers depleted partly by the federal response to Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and a series of tornadoes and wildfires. Democrats and Republicans had been at odds over a GOP demand to cut spending elsewhere in order to offset increased disaster relief funding in the past fiscal year, which ended Friday. FEMA ended that standoff, however, when it indicated it had enough money to get to the end of the fiscal year. via Obama signs temporary spending bill – CNN.com.