Congressman's Favors for Friend Include Help in Secret Budget / With Rep. Gibbons's Backing, An Ex-Trader for Milken Wins Millions in Contracts
Source: By JOHN R. WILKE, Wall Street Journal (subscription req.), November 1, 2006
….. At a time of rising concern over lawmakers who direct or "earmark" federal spending to their supporters and business partners, a growing part of the budget is shielded from scrutiny. This is the "black budget," mostly for defense and intelligence, which is disclosed only in the vaguest terms. The ties between Mr. Trepp and Mr. Gibbons raise questions about an influential politician in America's fastest-growing state, and also offer a rare glimpse of contracts in this secret budget being awarded to a politically connected businessman without competitive bidding.