The Washington Post reports that with $235 Billion in tobacco money up for grabs, states are lining up to protect tobacco companies from competition.

Numerous states are considering or have adopted legislation aimed at increasing the price of discount cigarettes and protecting the market share of the "Big Four" tobacco companies -- Philip Morris, Lorillard, Brown & Williamson and R.J. Reynolds. [...]

"We need to guarantee a continuing flow of revenue that we use to help balance Virginia's budget and pay for health care and economic development in the tobacco-dependent regions," said Sen. Charles R. Hawkins (R[INO]-Pittsylvania), who plans to introduce legislation targeting the independents.

The legislation they want to pass would be an artificial price increase on generic and off brand cigarettes, aimed at reducing the market share of the major brands. The National Association of Attorneys General figures that the proliferation of generic cigarettes has "cost" states $600 Million.

In reality, they have only themselves to blame. The tobacco settlement and the prohibitive increases in state and local cigarette taxes are driving smokers away from the major brands. As Owen Courreges so elequently writes, "How morally bankrupt can you get?"