Huckleberries Online

Only 1 Waitress In Montana House

Posted by DFO

Feb. 2, 2009 1:45 p.m. • 13 comments

Rep. Penny Morgan, a four-term lawmaker from Billings, is almost always a good Republican. She is pro-life. She believes the best budgets are tight ones and frowns upon higher taxes. But there’s a part of Morgan, 48, that splits from her party - the part that puts her hair in an up-do, laces her comfortable shoes and straightens her Red Lobster name tag. Morgan, a mother of three grown and successful girls, is a waitress. She is the only waitress in the 2009 Legislature. “I look out for the little guy,” she said in a recent interview on the House floor at the Capitol. “I’m an ordinary, everyday working person”/Billings Gazette. More here.

Question: Would you prefer to see more working-class people in the nation’s Legislatures? Or are the issues handled in those bodies more suitable for lawyers, bankers, and business owners?

13 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Phaedrus on February 02 at 1:43 p.m.
1 waitress in the Montana House and 1 in the Alaska Governor’s Mansion.
Sisyphus on February 02 at 1:45 p.m.
Let’s see, Thayn is an educator, Hentger is a journalist, Bowers was a restauranteur, I think Noninni is a car salesman and they’ve all said some of the wackiest things to ever come out of the mouth of a lawmaker. They should all be judged on content of their character, not their earning capacity or vocation.
keithincda on February 02 at 1:58 p.m.
I agree with Sis, I mean look at Tom Daschle after all…;)
JohnA on February 02 at 2:35 p.m.
Sis: “I think Noninni is a car salesman ”

If you mean Rep. Bob Nonini, he is in the insurance business in Coeur d’Alene.
Charlie on February 02 at 2:35 p.m.
I want the best and the brightest to represent us and that does not always mean a career politician or a particular party. In our government right now we see what Nancy Pelosi called “The Culture of Corruption.” It’s both parties folks, to much money passes under their noses not to be affected and we see some right now that think the rules and laws aren’t meant for them.
hhuseland on February 02 at 4:11 p.m.
It will always bode well for the people’s government to have some real people in it. As long as the individual has a bit of commonsense and isn’t just a one issue wonder, sure. We have many attorneys in our government and that is as it should be. That doesn’t mean a 100% legal chamber would do anything right. Balance is the key. If you have a mix of people from many different walks of life, most points of view will be represented.
Me on February 02 at 4:41 p.m.
I think we need all types and waitresses are just fine - I was one for many years!

And blue collar worker does not equal dumb. (Unless they are an R, then they are dumb even if they are white collar)

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.