Input: IT market is still growing but slowly

Federal spending on information technology will maintain its modest growth rate over the next two years, as the political climate keeps agencies wary of major new projects, according to a new market report.

IT spending will increase by 2.9 percent across the three branches of government, according to Input, a market research firm. President Bush's fiscal 2008 budget proposal increases total civilian agency IT spending to $65.5 billion, or 2.6 percent over fiscal 2007.

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Doan: Details of controversial lunch meeting unclear

The day the White House made a presentation listing 20 Democrats to target in 2008 at a brown-bag lunch at the General Services Administration was a busy one for GSA Administrator Lurita Doan, she said, explaining to a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee why she cannot recall the details of the meeting.

The Jan. 26 luncheon at which White House Deputy Director of Political Affairs Scott Jennings gave a PowerPoint presentation led to allegations that Doan and others violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits political activities using government equipment or on government time. The Office of Special Counsel is reviewing the issue.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said GSA’s top political appointees gathered at the meeting to find ways to help Republican candidates in next year’s election. And this was done in a federal building during working hours at taxpayers’ expense, he added.

“This appears to be a textbook example of what should never happen at a federal agency,” Waxman said. “You can’t engage in partisan political activity on government time.”

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Doan says money, proper oversight brought her to Capitol Hill

Lurita Doan, administrator of the General Services Administration, said in prepared testimony for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that her struggles with the agency's inspector general boils down to money and proper oversight, which are the two issues that brought her before the committee.

Doan said she has wrestled with GSA IG Brian Miller over making budget cuts and creating a hostile work environment.

She rejected many of the allegations against her. She denied calling Miller and his employees terrorists. She said she did not tell staff members to exclude Democrats from GSA events. And she said she made a mistake regarding the $20,000 contract to promote GSA's work with small and minority businesses, according to her testimony.

Read rest of the story: FCW.com News - Doan says money, proper oversight brought her to Capitol Hill