Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama signed a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut Friday, ending what had been a heated political stalemate and sealing a hard-fought win for Democrats on an issue -- taxes -- that has historically favored the GOP. Earlier in the day, the measure cleared the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives by unanimous consent, a procedural move allowing the measure to pass even though most members of Congress were already home for the holidays. "This is some good news just in the nick of time," Obama said shortly before departing the White House for Hawaii. But "we have a lot more work to do. This continues to be a make-or-break moment for the middle class in this country."
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Obama signs 2-month payroll tax cut extension
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House GOP's defeat raises new questions about Boehner's leadership
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The House and Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent
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The procedural move allowed the measure to pass even though most members have left town
Congress
@placeholder will consider a longer extension of all three measures when it reconvenes in January.
Congress
Obama also signed a separate appropriations bill funding the government through September 2012, wrapping up a legislative year marked by repeated partisan brinksmanship and declining public approval of a seemingly dysfunctional @placeholder.
House of Representatives
House
House
In a virtual party-line vote, the House on Tuesday passed a measure calling for the creation of a @placeholder-Senate conference committee to consider ways to pay for an immediate year-long continuation.
Democrats
But congressional @placeholder and administration officials, noting previous legislative maneuvering over the issue and a looming December 31 deadline, called the House's terms unrealistic and refused to budge.
GOP
Republican
GOP
Facing rising @placeholder establishment fears that the GOP was squandering its political advantage on taxes, the speaker again reversed himself on Thursday, this time essentially consenting to the Senate's terms.
GOP
Republican
GOP
Facing rising Republican establishment fears that the @placeholder was squandering its political advantage on taxes, the speaker again reversed himself on Thursday, this time essentially consenting to the Senate's terms.
GOP
Republican
GOP
Boehner was under "intense pressure from senior @placeholder" over a situation that "became so botched," he said.
Democratic
Republicans and some @placeholder union leaders say the controversial pipeline will create thousands of new jobs; critics question its environmental impact.