Federal deficit fell to 4-yr. low

Here is something that should have made headline news but only got a byline column in the business edition of the Times this morning:

The federal deficit fell to a four-year low in the budget year that just ended, a result President Bush pointed to Wednesday in claiming Republicans are better stewards of the economy than are Democrats. The administration said the deficit dropped to $247.7-billion---welcome news for Republicans struggling to keep control of Congress. Democrats said the improvement in the 2006 federal deficit was a temporary blip.