VA's $700M in IT Carry-Over Funds

Though Veterans Affairs Department CIO Roger Baker expects to have an information technology budget in fiscal 2011 of $3.16 billion -- $145 million below the department's request - carry-over funds from fiscal 2010 will more than help bridge the gap.

Baker said the VA did not spend $700 million of its IT budget in 2010, and those funds can be used this year. He noted he'd like to have all he asked for, but also understands the need for fiscal prudence in lean times.

And, as legendary Senate Republican leader Everett Dirksen supposedly said: "A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."