Obama signs bill on defense, jobless spending

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President Obama has signed into law a bill that combines another round of war spending with help for the unemployed.

The $626-billion defense bill contains $128 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and a 3.4% pay raise for the military.

Lawmakers also wrapped unrelated economic help into the legislation. The nation is emerging from recession but still dogged by double-digit unemployment.

The new law includes two-month extensions of unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless. It also has healthcare subsidies for people out of work, along with money for highways and transit systems.

-- Associated Press