HELENA – On any given day in the Capitol, you might see Bill Warden sipping coffee in the basement cafeteria, or Pat Wagman chatting in the first-floor hallway. Or look, there’s Chris Harris.
All three men at one time or another represented chunks of Southwest Montana in the House of Representatives. But they have since swapped their representative badges for those of lobbyists.
Despite the superior skiing, and some might say better views, in Bozeman in the winter, come session time, it seems some just can’t stay away from the capitol city.
“I like the process,” said Warden. With a wry smile, he added, “Since I found getting elected to be fairly difficult, I found this is a way to be part of the process.”
Warden, a Republican, represented east Bozeman’s House District 63 for one term, before being ousted by Rep. JP Pomnichowski, a Democrat. He ran for House District 70 last year, but lost in the Republican primary to Rep. Michael More.
Warden is now a registered lobbyist for Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, as well as St. Peters Hospital in Helena.
Wagman served two terms in the House representing Livingston and a portion of Park County. Now he lobbies for the Montana Family Foundation, a socially conservative organization.
His task is singular — promote Sen. Jeff Essmann’s Senate Bill 342, which would give tax breaks to people who donated money to help low-income kids attend private schools. He said that is one advantage over being a rep.
“As far as the issues go, this is much more effective,” Wagman said. “I’ve been spending 50 hours a week on a single issue. There is no way you could do that as a representative.”
Harris, who could not be reached for comment, is registered as a lobbyist with the Student Assistance Foundation and Apple Inc. The former Democratic representative represented portions of Bozeman in the House.
In Washington, D.C., elected officials leaving their seats in Congress and assuming posts with K Street lobbying firms is the subject of some consternation. Those critical of the practice have dubbed it “revolving-door” lobbying.
The Center for Responsive Politics gives this analysis of the practice: “While members of the executive branch, Congress and senior congressional staffers spin in and out of the private and public sectors, so too does privilege, power, access and, of course, money.”
But that assessment doesn’t really stick in Helena. Access isn’t a problem in a Capitol building with just one dining hall and only a few private toilets.
The more appropriate question might be why the former lawmakers are willing to dive back into hearing rooms that some find tedious, others disenchanting and still others a ripe place to catch a nasty cold.
Warden, as he said, says he likes the process. Wagman, for his part, chalks it up to the divine.
“I feel like this is what God wants me to do. If I was looking at my self interest, I’d be doing something else,” he said.
