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7 Senate Secret Santa Gifts

Cornyn, left, received a gift from Leahy, right. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Cornyn, left, received a gift from Leahy, right. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Senators didn’t let contentious negotiations over how to fund the government dampen their holiday spirit Tuesday night, when they gathered to swap gifts with one another.  

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., organizes the annual “Secret Santa” event , letting senators take a break from their day jobs, drink some eggnog, and have a good time. Wondering what senators would give one another for the holidays? HOH takes a look at seven secret Santa gifts exchanged: 1. The gift of music . Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., gave Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., an Adele CD. Carper is a big fan of the singer, and he told HOH he played her album “21” constantly. “I must’ve worn it out. I just couldn’t take it off my CD player,” Carper said. “Quite a talent.”

2. A cheesy gift.  Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was spotted exiting the event with a cheeseboard shaped like Texas and some Cabot cheese courtesy of Democratic Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont.  

3.  A gift to last a lifetime (or two).  Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., left the soiree carrying a small glass terrarium with floating green balls inside. He said they were Japanese moss balls from Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and that they can live for 200 years.  

4.  A sweet gift . Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin received a bag of Señor Murphy candy, a New Mexican favorite courtesy of the one of the state's senators, Democrat Tom Udall. Cardin proudly tweeted a photo of himself holding the tasty treat.  

5.  A gift to help you stay awake during vote-a-ramas. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said he was not able to attend the holiday party due to a meeting, but he gave Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Hawaiian "Kona Coffee." Schatz said his gift worked out, "because Sen. Nelson really likes Kona Coffee."  

6.  A gift to keep hunger and thirst at bay. Cardin sought to highlight his own state with his gift, which centered on "Old Bay," Maryland's signature seasoning. He tweeted that a "lucky senator" received Old Bay candy, and some Flying Dog beer that is spiced with Old Bay seasoning, which might come in handy during a long night at the end of the session (when it gets to that "I really need a drink right now" point).  

7. A gift to toast a government funding bill with.  Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., gave her a bottle of Oregon wine. "I have not consumed it yet," she joked to HOH. Capito said she gave salt mined in West Virginia to Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.  

Niels Lesniewski contributed to this report. Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated Capito's home state. Related: Senators’ Secret Santa Swap Set for Dec. 8 See photos, follies, HOH Hits and Misses and more at Roll Call's new video site. Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.

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