Wearing gas masks and carrying anti-smoking signs, about 25 high school and junior high students rallied at the Statehouse on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to stop lighting up in the building.
The students, with the anti-smoking group Smokefree Indiana, said legislators set a poor example for young people when they ignore no-smoking signs at the entrances to the building. “It’s high time our Statehouse be smoke-free,” said Gretchen Sneegas, 12, a 7th grader at New Augusta Public Academy in Indianapolis.
Sneegas, who has worked at the Statehouse as a page, said she finds it disgusting to see lawmakers smoking on the floor.
While smoking is banned at the Statehouse most of the year, lawmakers have exempted themselves from that ban when the Legislature is in session. They have set aside designated areas where they can light up.
Rep. Jeff Espich (R-Uniondale), is a smoker. He said he’s not disobeying any laws by smoking in designated areas, but said if the building were smoke-free, “I could live with it.”
