Toomey’s candy drawer gets some love from Rachel Maddow Show

U.S. Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.) got some love from MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Monday night.

Maddow did a bit on Toomey’s “Candy Desk” — a 50-year-old tradition.

https://twitter.com/SenToomey/status/582895616717520896

Yes, just like in many offices across the country, in the U.S. Senate, one person is tasked with keeping a drawer stuffed full of candy to share with their colleagues — a tradition started by Sen. George Murphy of California.

That desk, the24thin the U.S. Senate, has been occupied byToomeysince January when he moved desks as the new Republican Senate majority was installed.

The senator with the candy drawer stocks it with sweets manufactured in their home state, so Toomey’s got plenty of choices.

“The Candy Desk duty is Mounds of responsibility,”Toomeysaid in a statement announcing his arrival at the24thSenate desk. “I campaigned for this assignment on the platform of life, liberty, and the pursuit of Peeps and hope Pennsylvania’s treats will sweeten the bitter partisan atmosphere.”

The drawer includes Hershey’s chocolates, Mars chocolates like Three Musketeers (manufactured in Elizabethtown), Just Born’s “Peeps” from Bethlehem, and smaller candy makers including Asher’s inKulpsville, Wilbur Chocolate inLititz, and Josh Early Chocolates in the Lehigh Valley.

In total, there are 200 confectioners employing 10,000 statewide, according toToomey.

The “Candy Desk” was previously held by former PennsylvaniaSen. RickSantorumfor more than 10 years, so it has returned to its “rightful place,”Toomey’sofficesaid in a release.