HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Pennsylvania lawmakers have advanced a bill that would make Hershey’s Kisses the state’s official candy.

State Representatives Thomas Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) and Patty Kim (D-Dauphin/Cumberland) renewed the bill after years of attempts saying last year the Kiss is “recognizable worldwide” and “strengthened the region’s economy in unparalleled ways.”

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This Week in Pennsylvania

The idea of making Hershey’s Kisses the official state candy began as a Bucks County student’s project that was brought to lawmakers. Similar legislation had never made it far enough to face a full vote in the House of Senate. On Tuesday it passed the House 130-71 with bipartisan support.

“(The students) never thought that the Hershey Kiss being the state candy would be so confrontational,” said Mehaffie ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

“Let’s give these students the recognition they deserve and support their sweet initiative for Pennsylvania,” said State Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks).

Not all members of the house felt as sweet towards the bill.

State Representative Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) voted against the bill and highlighted an extensive history of candy in Pennsylvania such as Peanut Chews and Peeps.

“Today we’re being asked to put our thumb on the scale as a state government and select just one, one company to get the honor of being the state candy, one candy of being the state candy in Pennsylvania… that is not fair or appropriate that one private enterprise be honored in this way when all of the others be disrespected,” said Schemel, who concluded, “Glory be to all candies in Pennsylvania.”

State Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) also voted against the bill saying it was unfair to other companies while highlighting headlines that poorly reflected The Hershey Company.

“Mr. Speaker,” said State Representative Brad Roae (R-Crawford/Erie), it is ridiculous that we are favoring a frickin’ piece of candy!”

Hershey’s Kisses were first made by the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1907. While the exact origin of the treat’s name is not certain, Hershey’s says one story is that the machine that makes Kisses makes a sound like a kiss. A kiss was also a common confectionery term for a small piece of candy.

According to Hershey’s, the company makes 70 million Kisses a day.

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