NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Deficit-Reduction Bill Signed by Bush

President Bush signed a $14.7-billion deficit-reduction bill that raises $5.6 billion in new revenues, reforms Medicare payments to doctors and keeps across-the-board spending cuts in place until February. The bill became law after a months-long battle between the Administration and Democrats in Congress over the inclusion of the cut in the capital gains tax favored by Bush. Congressional leaders bitterly opposed the cut, which passed the House but died in the Senate.