It would have been better if the Senate hadn’t dithered and watered this down, but this should keep a few thousand cops and teachers employed:

The US House of Representatives has passed an aid package that will provide cash-strapped states with $26bn (£16.4) for healthcare and education.

The bill, which cleared the Senate last week, is now set to be signed by President Barack Obama, three months before the mid-term elections.

The president had appealed for the passage of the legislation, while Republicans condemned it.

The House had been called back for an emergency session for the vote.

The House voted 247 to 161 in favour of the bill, which supporters say will help to save the jobs of 100,000 teachers.

The package also includes $16.1bn to extend funding for the Medicaid healthcare programme for low-income Americans.

This has been a very busy August news wise.