The $410 billion spending bill now on its way to President Obama's desk would provide small boosts to information technology programs for this year.

Not to be confused with the $787 billion economic stimulus package signed last week by President Obama, this legislation would fund federal agencies through Sept. 30, 2009. Although there are plenty of "earmarks" for special projects in the bill, Obama is expected to sign it.

It adds money to the pot for IT spending, and includes more money for the Internal Revenue Service's modernization program with some strings attached. The Senate, concerned with the program that was started in 1999 to replace an antiquated computer system, said that it has to be scrutinized and managed carefully for the next several years.

Not all programs received more money. The Justice Department, for example, lost about $14 million because of delays to the financial management system. The budget item will receive about $80 million for the project that has been under development since 2006.

Another loser was the FBI's planned National Security Analysis Center. Congress declined to fund $10.7 million for the center because it said it could violate the privacy of law abiding citizens.

For more on this year's funding bill for IT:
- check out this nextgov.com article