US President Barack Obama speaks from the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, August 2, 2011. The US Senate on Tuesday approved legislation to avert a disastrous debt default and cut trillions in government spending, sending the contentious bill to President Barack Obama to sign into law. Lawmakers voted 74-26 to pass the measure — which cleared the House of Representatives by an overwhelming 269-161 margin a day earlier — with just hours to spare before a midnight (0400 Wednesday) deadline.
AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)