Until his defeat last year, Sen. Rick Santorum, stocked a desk with donations from home-state candy makers including Hershey Co. and Just Born Inc., maker of Hot Tamales and Peanut Chews. When Rick left so did the candy.
Ethics rules forbid members accepting gifts worth $100 or more a year from a single source. One exception covers items produced in a senator's home state -- so long as they're used primarily by people other than the senator or his staff. The provision was crafted to allow senators to offer visitors home-grown snacks, such as Florida orange juice or Georgia peanuts.
I know what you are thinking. Casey will just take over. NOPE. The candy desk has by tradition always been located on the Republican side of the Senate chamber, in a heavily trafficked area near the exit to the elevators. The state's other senator, Arlen Specter, a Republican, already has a choice seat toward the front. Can we move the desk? Come on this is important! NOPE.
The Senate takes its furniture seriously. It is still using the 48 desks built in 1819 by a New York cabinetmaker to replace those burned by the British during the War of 1812. The candy desk -- a tradition, not a rule -- dates to 1968, according to the Senate Historical Office. That's when Sen. George Murphy, the former actor and film executive, began sharing treats from the back row.
GRIDLOCK ALREADY! How will they function???????????????
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