'Sweet' Influences on lawmaking

(At the end of this week, we will start our study of Congress. To give you a sweet taste of an instituion that has sour public approval ratings, here are a couple of interesting posts. First, the Tribune reports on the important desk Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk is manning. Second, a look in on the influence candy makers had on the treat of  moving the end of Daylight Savings until after Halloween.)

WASHINGTON — Here's a sweet story from the nation's capital, a tale devoid, mostly, of its political knife fights and grenades.


Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois, maintains a Senate tradition dating to 1965, back when he was in kindergarten at Fairmount School in Downers Grove.

He is assigned to Desk No. 95, which is near the Senate's most heavily used entrance, making it perfect to serve as the chamber's "candy desk." Kirk, his aides and Illinois candy manufacturers keep it stocked with treats for senators and staff. It's loaded with confections such as Jelly Bellys, bite-size Snickers bars and Ferrara Pan chocolates.

"Senators, being older, can get kind of grumpy in the afternoon, and have this tradition of being able to reach into this desk to get a treat," Kirk, 52, said.

Chocoholics in the chamber need not worry because Kirk won't name names. It's partly discretion, partly the nature of his calorie-laden cache. Rather than staying at his desk and minding the store, Kirk is often buttonholing colleagues on the Senate floor.


"I'm deep in the well (of the Senate) talking to 15 members about 14 things," he said. "The desk kind of runs itself. I can't tell you individual (candy) preferences. It's a 'drive-by' pickup they do … a pretty stealth swoop."

His own weakness? When sugar-free Orbit gum won't suffice during a "hypoglycemic dip," Kirk chooses chocolate.

For more on how the Illinois Republican handles this informal leadership spot:

Kirk's Sweet Desk

The Senate, more than the House of Represenatives, is associated with evolving traditions of (worthy?) of the Upper House. Here's the skinny (really?) on the history of the candy desk.

Since 1965

(Was it a Trick, or a Treat? This was big news at Halloween and the influences on lawmaking on Capitol Hill four years ago. This post origninally posted on Political Warrior in Nov. 2007)




Last year's Trick-or-Treating was different. Because Congress in 2007 moved Daylight Savings time back to the first Saturday in Novemeber, my son went to a record number of doors in the Sunlight. (In 2008, I think he set a new record).

"I got lots of candy more than ever before,'' said then nine-year-old Patrick. "It should have been night, because night is cooler going trick-or-treating, and the houses are more lit up . But I probably wouldn't have got as much candy."

Hmm. Despite the fact that Patrick did get tooth paste at one house, the load of his loot may have been due to influences on Capitol Hill. The New York Times City Room Blog says the candy lobby gave an influential push for a rider to the 2005 Engergy Policy Act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Policy_Act_of_2005  NYT story on the influences on federal lawmakers to shed more light on Halloween night (child safety was also a legitimate concern) is linked here:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/an-extra-hour-of-daylight-thank-the-candy-lobby/index.html?hp