DIRTY  SECRETS OF THE BLACK BUDGET

DUNHAM (2006)BUSINESS WEEK/ 2/27/ 41

On the hill, there are at least 2 budgets. The white budget theoretically is available to anyone who wants to read a huge book with arcane numbers. It is supposedly transparent. Then there is the black budget. It is secret. Only a handful of senators and congressman know what is in it. The money is for intelligence agencies and the pentagon.

One congressman earmarked a few feel good items for local business back home in the black budget. He now stands to do prison time. The black budget is just coming to the surface of mainstream media. It has been known by hill watchers for years. The budget is kept in a secure room.It is attended by a few staffers.

If one can get something in the black budget, no one knows but the businesses that bribed the

congressman. On the other hand, the white budget earmarks can be reported back to the home district and the congressman is re-elected.

With bi-partisan gerrymandering, few congressman or senators ever lose an election.