Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., has brought the ho-ho-hope of
bipartisanship to Capitol Hill with his annual Senate Secret Santa for
three years now, and on Tuesday evening, the senators once again
exchanged gifts.
"Anything that brings Democrats and Republicans together and
builds relationships is a good thing," Franken told Whispers via email.
"That's why three years ago I came up with the idea to hold a Secret
Santa in the Senate and I've been doing it ever since."
This year, Franken drew his Democratic colleague Sen. Joe Donnelly,
Ind., and gifted him a hand-drawn map of the United States, which paid
particular attention to the states that played a role in Donnelly's
life.
Some senators gave favorites from their home states. For example,
Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., gave his colleague Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.,
some jam and jellies made by House of Webster in Rogers, Ark. Sen.
Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., showed off his home state's red clay by gifting
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., a "Georgia Clay Bread Warmer." And Sen. Kay
Hagan, D-N.C., gave a hat tip to a local charity by giving Sen. Michael
Bennet, D-Colo., dog treats made by arcBARKS, a program out of
Greensboro for the developmentally and intellectually disabled.
Other senators made their gift recipients feel at home. Sen. Dianne
Feinstein, D-Calif., was gifted California wine by Sen. Mike Johanns,
R-Neb. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was given Dunkin Donuts (and the
Massachusetts-based company's delicious coffee) by her colleague, Sen.
Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was the only senator to receive coal in
his Christmas stocking, but with a twist. He was gifted an elephant
statue made of the product from Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, W.Va., who
wanted to proudly show off the wares from his coal-producing home
state.
Overall, 65 senators participated (five more than in 2012), according to NBC News and each couldn't spend more than $15.
"It's something that we did back in grade school in St. Louis Park
and I think it genuinely brings some much necessary bipartisan cheer to
the Senate," Franken told Whispers.
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