Graber: the inspirational deal-maker, or top gun without a license to lobby?

Is it just me, or does something strike you as unusual about this report from the WisPolitics budget blog:

Schultz: "We've Got the Votes"

Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, headed into the office of Assembly Speaker John Gard shortly after noon with Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Rick Graber at his side, says the Senate is ready to pass the budget bill. "We've got the votes," he said, shortly before briefing Assembly Republican leadership on the amendment package his caucus created to reach the magic number of 17 votes.

The Richland Center Republican declined to talk about the details of the package, saying he didn't have his notes. "I'd say we're all a little unhappy, and that's a sign we have a good compromise," Schultz said.

Graber was in caucus with the Senate Republicans this morning. Schultz called him an "inspirational figure" in helping reach a compromise.

Rick Graber, state Republican chairman, was the inspiration for the budget compromise?

Not that there's anything wrong with that, as Seinfeld might say -- or is there?

What is Graber's role in the grand scheme of things, aside from being the inspirational party attack dog and ankle biter?

He's not registered as a lobbyist. But his law firm certainly lobbies. And his biography on the firm's website describes his work as follows below. See if it sounds at all like lobbying to you, or whether his client list includes anyone who might have a stake in the budget (bold face emphasis mine):

"Richard Graber is a director and President and Chief Executive Officer of the firm and a member of the Business Law and Government Relations Departments. Rick draws his clients from a variety of industries, including paper manufacturing, automotive, lighting, transportation, media, publishing, petroleum, moving and storage, financial institutions and higher education.

"Rick provides creative counsel and strategic help to his business clients on matters including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate governance and reorganization, executive compensation and corporate succession. He uses his knowledge and experience of government to help clients negotiate government contracts and to provide legislative solutions which stimulate the economy and help businesses to thrive ."

For a major law firm with a government affairs practice to have its president be the only non-legislator in the room for final budget negotiations -- priceless.