SPRINGFIELD - 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.''

Fleenor's comments come a day after the Illinois House forwarded a statewide smoking ban to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's desk.

If Blagojevich signs the measure into law, smoking would be banned in public places - including bars and restaurants - beginning Jan. 1.

The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Karen Yarbrough, D-Maywood, earlier said the proposal would have positive effects on the state's taxpayers.

''Cigarette smoke harms the smoker, everyone around them and drives up the cost of healthcare for everyone,'' she said.

Independent of the obvious health benefits, Fleenor said ''no study exists'' that shows Illinois will realize any financial benefits through the smoking ban.

Fleenor said the state will undoubtedly lose money because of the ban and a recent study by the Illinois Department of Revenue appears to back that up.

The state tax on cigarettes is 98-cents per pack and, according to state officials, Illinois collected $636 million in cigarette taxes last year.

If signed into law, the department estimated that the state can expect the ban to take a $30 million bite out of that.