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Smokers may feel the pinch after this legislative session. Bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate to add a dollar to the cigarette tax. The money would raise more than 800 million dollars and much of it would be used to cover the costs picked up by the state for sick smokers. Senate Sponsor Al Lawson also says the higher fee will go a long way toward keeping kids from starting to smoke.

I don’t consider cigarette tax that much of a tax increase as I consider it a prevention increase, you know, for the people and especially our teenagers who’ve been involved in smoking a great deal.”

The money would also help fund a 57 million dollar program ordered by voters this fall for the state to resume funding of smoking prevention and cessation efforts.