Senate drops restrictions on e-gov funding

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development did not follow the House’s lead in restricting how agencies contribute money to e-government projects.Members of the subcommittee late last month marked up their fiscal 2006 spending bill and kept the same provision as last year, which asks agencies to submit a justification and notification plan 10 days before the transfer of money for e-government projects is completed.The House version of the bill has more restrictive language that would require the Office of Management and Budget to submit a report for approval 15 days prior to transfer of funds, outlining why and how the funds will be used.The subcommittee also fully funded the administration’s $5 million request for the E-Government Fund. The House earmarked $3 million.