Congress is at odds over e-gov funding request

President Bush’s fiscal 2003 request for a $45 million e-government fund will head to conference when Congress is back in session next month.The Senate Appropriations Committee allocated the administration’s full request in the Treasury and General Government appropriations bill, but the House version allotted only $5 million.The administration committed to spending $100 million over three years on e-government and received $5 million this year. Officials have said they want to spend $45 million next year and $50 million in 2004.The Senate earlier this year passed the Electronic Government Act of 2001, S 803, which sought to give agencies $345 million in funding over four years, beginning with $45 million next year.