I can hear all the self-appointed do-gooders applauding this comment and setting themselves up as the moral judges of us poor misguided smokers. The only problem with this "tax them for recouping health care costs and funding anti-smoking ads" is:
Smokers (who don't quit) will generate more taxes than anticipated, and the politicians will divert the "windfall" excesses to other areas of the budget to meet shortfalls. (This comment based on personal experience/observation here in AZ!) If they do succeed in reducing smoking, then they face the choice of what to attack next...BIG FAT or DEMON RUM? Make no mistake about this...they need the consumer to fund their grand schemes and if tobacco dries up as a source of punitive taxes...they will find something else to go after!