WASHINGTON (AP) -- The latest from President Barack Obama's year-end news conference with reporters at the White House. All times are local.
2:25 p.m.
President Barack Obama is applauding Congress for passing a $1.1 trillion bill to fund the government and avert the possibility of a shutdown for the first nine months of next year.
At a news conference, Obama said Congress is ending the year on a "high note" and noted the passage of transportation and education bills.
Obama, who is expected to sign it, says he's not "wild about everything" in the spending bill. But he says it is a budget that invests in the U.S. military and the middle class.
He says Congress still needs to promote job growth and increase wages, and he says he wants to work with lawmakers next year to reform the criminal justice system .
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2:15 p.m.
President Barack Obama says 6 million people have signed up for coverage under his health care law so far this year.
Officials say that shows the program is strong and providing consumers with a valuable service.
Thursday was the deadline to enroll for coverage that takes effect Jan. 1.
Through Thursday, 6 million people had signed up in the 38 states using the HealthCare.gov website.
Of these, 2.4 million were new customers. Officials say that's well ahead of new sign-ups at this time last year.
Despite the latest numbers, the administration is not revising its overall enrollment target, which is 10 million paying customers by the end of 2016. That would be a modest gain over this year.
Jan. 31 is the last day to enroll or face potential fines.
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