Pat Toomey's 'candy desk' sates sweet-toothed senators

As the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump begins this week, Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, has an important task — making sure his fellow senators have plenty of sugar.

The Morning Call reported on the history of the Senate ‘candy desk,’ a tradition started by Sen. George Murphy of California in 1965.

The desk is located near the Senate Chamber’s busiest entrance, stocked with sweets for snackish senators. It’s been Toomey’s job to maintain the candy supply since 2015, the Morning Call reported.

Toomey spokesman Steve Kelly said Toomey saw the responsibility as a way to spotlight the many products made in Pennsylvania, which include Three Musketeers, Peeps, and, of course, Hershey’s.

Senate ethics rules prohibit many forms of donated gifts, but there is an exception allowing products made in a senator’s home state, according to the Morning Call. Pennsylvania’s many candy companies donate to keep the desk stocked.

Since Murphy left the senate in 1970, responsibility for the candy desk has passed from senator to senator, the Morning Call reported. Previous stewards include John McCain and Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

The desk has always been Republicans’ domain, but plenty of Democrats visit it to snag a treat, Kelly said.

“The candy desk is a popular destination for senators from both sides of the aisle,” he said via email.

Chocolate is especially popular, as is anything with peanuts or peanut butter, Kelly said.

The Morning Call reported Toomey plans to keep the desk fully stocked for the impeachment trial.