The article (the part I couldn't post) discusses the efforts of the State's senators and representatives and that they have been very successful in "bringing home the bacon" [or pork!]. It also mentions that the Republican predecessor did not have a lobbing firm or staff office there.
Richardson's chief-of-staff said "Obviously, with the governor's profile and the delegation's assistance, we have a lot of influences in Washington for a small state. However, a lot of things get done in the depths of the bureaucracies and that's where a lot of these firms know people and know how to get things done."
The solution to this fraud is to not give it to the Fed. Gov't in the first place.