The lines between elected official, political party leader and lobbyist have been blurred recently.
And come Saturday morning they will be smudged once again when former House Speaker-now-lobbyist Rob Bishop is elected Utah Republican Party chairman.Bishop, hand-picked by Utah's top GOP officeholders for the post, is the only formal candidate for the two-year chairmanship.
Bishop says he doesn't really consider himself a lobbyist, although he makes a healthy living at it. During the 45-day general legislative session he takes a leave from being a government/history teacher at Box Elder High School to represent various clients.
According to filings in the Lieutenant Governor's Office, in the 1997 session Bishop represented the Council of State Governments, Davis County Special Service District, Envirocare of Utah, Howard & Associates (another lobbying firm), IRM and ITEX Environmental Services Inc. (both Texas environmental companies), Utah Rural Electic Association and the Utah Shooting Sports Council.
Registered lobbyists don't have to list their fees as part of their registration. Bishop was a well-respected House speaker and is considered an effective lobbyist.
Standard lobbying fees run from $5,000 to $15,000 per client, per session. So Bishop could be making a tidy sum from his clients, perhaps even more than he earns as a teacher the rest of the year.
He'll get no pay for his state GOP work, however. Chairman is a volunteer post.
But being state chairman has, in the past, been one way to curry favor from loyal party stalwarts. Not a bad idea if one is looking at higher, elective office later.
In fact, Bishop has longingly looked at Rep. Jim Hansen's U.S. House seat. The Brigham City native was ready, able and willing to run for the 1st Congressional District in 1992.
Back then, Hansen was considering giving up his 12 years in the House for a run for the governorship or the U.S. Senate. If you recall, Gov. Norm Bangerter was retiring that year, as was U.S. Sen. Jake Garn.
As the 1992 candidate filing deadline approached, Bishop reportedly told his school administrators that he wouldn't be available for teaching summer classes - as he had for some years.
As a friend of Bishop's said at the time: "Rob has cleared his summer calendar. He's ready to run (for Congress) if Jim doesn't run for re-election."
However, discretion being the better part of valor, Hansen decided to keep his safe House seat and not run for governor or the U.S. Senate, where he most assuredly would find considerable Republican challengers.
Bishop filed again for his state House seat and prepared a campaign for House speaker. He won the speakership and retired from the House at the end of 1994, starting his lobbying business in the 1995 Legislature.
Bishop isn't the first lobbyist to be a party chairman.
County Commissioner Randy Horiuchi started a wide-ranging lobbying firm in the early 1980s and served two terms as state Democratic Party chair in the mid- to late-1980s.
Horiuchi says few were the times that his lobbying clients and his lobbying activities caused unpleasantness for Democratic House and Senate members.
But several members remember things a bit differently. One said recently that it was tough to vote against Horiuchi's clients or wishes knowing that within a couple of months of the Legislature adjourning, he would be making decisions about how much party money to give to which Democratic legislative candidates.
It's not always the lobbyist/ party chairman positions that are blurred. In the recent past the party chair has also been a sitting politician, as well.
Former GOP chairman Craig Moody (now also a lobbyist) served in GOP House leadership during his party duties.
And current (but retiring) state Democratic Party chairman Dave Jones is now the Democratic minority leader in the House.
But it is the party chair/lobbyist that is the most concern. Just as the lobbyist/lawmaker is also a problem that should be dealt with.
In Bishop's case, where will his loyalty lie? And who will benefit more from his dual duties? How many more lobbying clients will seek Bishop's representation knowing he is also head of the majority party?
No doubt his lobbying clients hope now to have back-door access to powerful GOP leaders in the state.
Perhaps it has always been true that the party chairman has had secondary agendas; was serving the party with one eye on future political races and/or hoping that his private business would be aided by his chairmanship connections.
But it is troublesome that the line between lobbyist, lawmaker and party leader in Utah is now so often just one step away. And maybe one step in the wrong direction.
Deseret News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com.