Obama's Office Recives a 9% Raise for 2010

The new federal appropriations bill will grant a 9% increase, over $300 million, to President Obama's Office of Management and Budget for 2010. These funds will be used for computer upgrades at the President's office and "pilot programs" to improve federal/state communication.

This passed bill requested more than a 7% increase overall. The biggest increases were for President Obama's office (Executive Office of the President), the District of Columbia, and the Treasury Department, including over $5.5 billion for IRS tax enforcement to combat tax evasion. This represents more than a 12% increase from 2009.

A report of all the increases can be found at http://republicans.appropriations.house.gov by clicking the "7.14.09 FY 2010 Financial Services Appropriations" sidebar. A summary of the bill can be found at http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/FS_FY10_FC_Summary_as_amended_07.07.2009.pdf.

-Christine Emmick is a business and real estate writer based in the Pittsburgh area.