WASHINGTON -- Sen. Al Franken gave a Georgia Republican senator one of his personalized freehand maps for Christmas and Sen. Amy Klobuchar gave a Texas Republican some Minnesota (corn) vodka and a couple of Cuban cigars.
As members wrap votes this week and head home for the holidays, Franken's Senate Santa gift exchange had 59 percent participation (in that, 59 senators participated) in exchanging gifts -- in a mostly bipartisan fashion.
"This is something we used to do at my elementary school back in St. Louis Park," Franken said, in a statement. "So I thought I'd bring the same thing to the Senate, Ever since I started hosting this event, it's done exactly what it is supposed to do: create comity and good cheer in an institution badly in need of both."
Klobuchar's prairie vodka and cigar gift went to Texas senior Sen. John Cornyn -- and there was a political message attached.
"I told him they (the cigars) may be collector items if Donald Trump reverses Obama's order," she said, referring to Cuba.
In exchange, Klobuchar received a moose coffee mug from Maine Sen. Angus King. From West Virginia Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, Franken received a Trump chia pet.
He didn't say where it would go.
Photo: Perisha Gates, U.S. Senate
