Advocates of House Bill 191 argue higher tobacco taxes will reduce the number of smokers and save on health care costs, but other anti-smoking advocates say we need to do more to combat the physical, economical, and racist effects.

State Rep. Michelle Au, a practicing anesthesiologist, is filing a bill this legislative session to increase the tax on tobacco products in Georgia. The state has the second lowest tax — just 37 cents per pack of cigarettes — in the nation.

A key state lawmaker said Friday that he will continue to press his colleagues on ways to grow revenues as they consider a budget proposal that carries forward many of the cuts made when the financial outlook was bleak.

Lawmakers have little time, but big goals to get bills they've sponsored passed before the legislative session ends on Friday. They will vote on the $26...