Cooking the books.

The Congressional Budget Office on Friday “forecast a $371 billion shortfall for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, compared with the administration’s $423 billion “” a $52 billion gap. … For the third year, the administration has calculated that the annual deficit will come in higher than most public and private forecasters expect. … Observers in both parties say the White House projects a high deficit because, when the actual result turns out to be less, the administration can claim credit for stemming the red ink.”