No pizzas or fries here: Did you know Senators are only allowed to have candy, milk during impeachment trial?
As charges against President Donald Trump during his impeachment trial are being weighed in the Senate, there is an increased interest in the senators who are sitting as the jury for the process. Their every single move — from their idiosyncrasies to their eating habits — are being closely watched as they hear arguments for and against Trump's removal from office. The trial, in its third day, has also ignited interest in the famed Senate 'candy desk,' which, it turns out, is not a myth.
The Senators have been spotted helping themselves to candies, chocolates, and even milk during the long hours of the trial to replenish their energy. The Senate chamber reportedly has strict rules about eatables and drinkables being brought in during the impeachment trial. Coffee is banned. The rules do not permit any beverage except for water, sparkling water, and milk to be brought in the chamber. Electronics, like mobile phones, are also prohibited during the trial.
No eatables are permitted inside either, however, the senators can extract supplies from the Senate candy desk, which has currently being overseen by Senator Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, who was assigned to keep stock in 2015.
Senator Toomey, as the keeper of the candy, keeps it stocked with treats from his home state. The desk is located on the Republican side of the chamber, in the back row on the aisle, near the chamber’s most heavily used entrance, and anyone can help themselves to the supplies regardless of their party affiliation.
The candy desk currently includes Hershey’s chocolate bars, Rolos, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way bars, peanut butter cups made by Reading, Pa-based R.M. Palmer Co. and Peanut Chews.
“The companies provide them to the office," Steve Kelly, a spokesman for Toomey, told the New York Times. "We take down candy periodically to the staff of the Senate cloakroom."
The age-old tradition of the candy desk was started nearly 40 years ago by Senator George Murphy, a California Republican, in 1965. Senator Murphy, who was also the president of the Screen Actors Guild, reportedly had a sweet tooth, which resulted in the candy desk.
It is also intriguing that along with water and candy, milk is also permitted in the chamber. The permission to drink milk also has a history to it. A precedent from January 24, 1966 states, "Senate rules do not prohibit a Senator from sipping milk during his speech," according to former Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin, CNN reported.
The practice was reportedly initiated to help senators suffering from peptic ulcer disease because "way back when, in the 50s" there was no treatment for the condition other than drinking milk, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said. "There was no medicine for peptic ulcer disease so people would drink milk and so the senators were allowed to drink milk because they had ulcers," he said.
Senators cannot bring outside drinks and food on the floor. They, however, can help themselves to snacks in the Cloakroom of the Senate.