Rep. Rob Bishop made The Washington Post's list of 47 lawmakers who secured earmarks for organizations that employ a family member, but the Utah Republican argues that the newspaper is stretching a bit.

Bishop secured $1.5 million in federal funds for Weber State University in earmarks he sponsored in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The univeristy hired his son Shule to lobby the state government in 2010.

Bishop argues that no conflict exists because the earmarks came before the hiring and a university spokesperson told the Post that Shule Bishop doesn't deal with federal policy.

The list is part of the Post's extensive look into the questionable ties between earmarks and the personal interests of the lawmakers who got them funded.

-- Matt Canham
Twitter: @mattcanham