IP: Bush admin plans to "reassign" IT funds already appropriated

[David Farber <dfarber () earthlink net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Warren <jwarren () well com>
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 10:27:37 
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>, Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Subject: Bush admin plans to "reassign" IT funds already appropriated

At 09:46 AM -0400 07/09/02, "Patrice  McDermott" 
<pmcdermott () alawash org> wrote:
> http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/0708/fcw-edit-07-08-02.asp 
>
> OMB's new hand
>
>  Editorial
>
>  July 8, 2002
>
>
>  The Bush administration has pulled out a budgetary trump card, 
> citing a little noticed provision in the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 
> giving it the power to cut or move funding for information 
> technology programs - even if Congress already appropriated money 
> for the program. This card could change the game considerably, and 
> the administration would do well to collaborate with agencies and 
> Congress when they play it.
>
>  Norman Lorentz, chief technology officer at the Office of 
> Management and Budget, said last month that the administration 
> planned to exercise a provision of Clinger-Cohen that gives OMB the 
> authority to cut or move funding for redundant and underperforming 
> IT programs. This obscure power is one of the most powerful weapons 
> in OMB's arsenal to implement its E-Government Strategy, part of 
> which entails consolidating similar IT programs scattered throughout 
> agencies and cutting IT spending in general.
>
>  OMB is certainly headed for a tussle with Congress, which doesn't 
> want its dictates for IT spending changed substantially, and with 
> government IT workers, who will be affected by the changes. Some 
> members of Congress have already said OMB should be ready for a 
> fight. Other longtime federal IT experts with agency and OMB 
> experience are a bit surprised by the agency's bravado.
>
> [...]

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