Supporters of a statewide smoking ban say it will save taxpayers money by reducing health care costs in Illinois.

But at least one economist says that notion holds as much weight as a flicked ash.

Patrick Fleenor, chief economist at the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based educational group, said the state won’t save money and will most certainly lose it if fewer people buy cigarettes.

"That’s nonsense," he said of the supposed health care savings. ’’And the reason that it’s nonsense is that smokers more than pay their way.’’

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