Politics, conservatism always a part of Bishop

For Republican Congressman Rob Bishop, politics and phone calls are two habits hard to break.

Since he was a child in Kaysville, both played big parts of the early life of Bishop. Much of that was because his father was always politically involved, whether as a candidate, a delegate or a campaign volunteer, which usually meant that the younger Bishop would help work the phones.

"I can't remember a time when he wasn't a delegate or helping with a campaign," Bishop said. "I grew up in a household where being involved in politics was the norm, and I thought that was typical."

Today, even as a sophomore congressman, Bishop still hits the phones almost nightly. Typically, he spends a couple of hours after his congressional business finishes and returns calls from his constituents.

"It helps me understand issues that I don't really understand, and it helps steer me in the direction my constituents want," he said.

Remaining grounded is important for Bishop, especially as he gains more experience in Washington, which is why he returns home practically every weekend. He also works to keep the same sense of humor he exercised while the speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, when he instituted things like "sweater days."

"I tried to do things so we wouldn't take ourselves so seriously," he said. "I wanted to remind people that we weren't so cool."

Throughout his long political career, there have been regular jolts to his humility. Whether it's being sent to the intern office as a freshman (and 26-year-old) legislator or having constituents essentially hang-up on him when he calls them as a congressman, he has little opportunity to think too highly of himself.

As a congressman, that sense of his place in the world helps, as well, because he understands that as a sophomore in Washington, D.C., he will have only limited chances to be a major player. Still, he is proud of his assignments — most notably, his position on the powerful House Rules Committee — and his success in helping protect Hill Air Force Base from closing and keeping the West Desert bombing range free of nuclear waste.

Of the Rules Committee position, he said that "it allowed me to do things that I never imagined possible as a sophomore."

Political maturation