I read with interest the story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week that the state of Georgia has a $600 million shortfall and will be forced to take funds from its reserves to cover its bills for just the recent fiscal year ("Georgia Dips Into Savings," Page One, July 17). The story went on to say that the situation looks as dire for fiscal year 2009, which started July 1. With state revenues way down and the economy continuing to sputter, with no relief in sight, Gov. Sonny Perdue has ordered state agencies to cut 3.5 percent of their budgets.

But there is a logical and more fiscally sound alternative to fill the huge budget gap, and it's a plan that 75 percent of Georgians say they support: Raise the excise tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1. The increase would put an estimated $612 million into the state's coffers.

A coalition of prestigious health care organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, put forth this proposal in February, when it released the results of a poll conducted among 600 Georgians. The poll showed overwhelming support for a $1-per-pack increase in the state's tobacco tax as part of an effort to reduce tobacco use —- particularly among youth.

The support came from a broad base of voters, including 73 percent of Republicans, 79 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of independents. Even 63 percent of smokers said they support the tobacco tax increase to fund health care. Based on the results of the poll and the irrefutable evidence that raising tobacco taxes saves lives, I introduced HB 1197 to increase the tobacco tax by $1 with both Republican and Democrat co-sponsors. It was disappointing that the bill failed to make it beyond the House Ways and Means Committee.

Georgia currently has one of the lowest tobacco taxes in the country, at 37 cents per pack, while smoking-caused health costs and productivity losses in Georgia equal $9.02 for every pack of cigarettes sold in the state. An analysis by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids shows that a $1 increase in Georgia's tobacco tax would save 114,100 Georgia kids from the death, addiction and disease caused by tobacco use. The reductions in smoking that result from the tax would also save $2.5 billion in tobacco-related health care costs in Georgia.

This plan is a win-win for everyone —- state government, the people of Georgia and, especially, Georgia's youth.

It's a sound solution to the state's fiscal crisis that will help, not hurt, the state's ability to operate responsibly while continuing to serve all its residents.

> State Rep. Ron Stephens is a Republican from Savannah.