I-Team Spotted Someone Smoking In Statehouse
Jump to full article: WSMV-TV NBC-4 (Nashville, TN), 2008-05-06
Author: Reported By Jeremy Finley
Intro: On Monday, the I-Team's Jeremy Finley reported how a lawmaker and some other people were breaking the law behind closed doors by using a conference room and an office as an area to smoke, even though state law prohibits smoking in state buildings.
If an establishment allows someone to smoke on or in its premises the state issues a letter, one of which will be sent to Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville.
It was in McCord's office at the state Legislature that the I-Team spotted someone smoking.
McCord was among the state lawmakers who voted for the smoking ban a couple of years ago.
"It's hypocritical. It's a double standard, and there's no way to justify it," said Drew Johnson of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.
Along with McCord's office, a source also told the I-Team that inside Legislative Plaza, an entire conference room designed for official business had become a room to skirt the smoking law and not get caught. . . .
"Based on your story, we're going to make contact with the appropriate authorities and get assurances that they are going to comply," said Tennessee Department of Labor representative Daniel Bailey.
Following Finley's report, the state will issue McCord a letter telling him to stop allowing smoking in his offices.
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