March 8, 2010

ATLANTA (AP) -- More than 100 anti-smoking advocates and
health care workers rallied at the state Capitol calling for a
$1-per-pack increase in the state tax on cigarettes, saying it
would help close a growing budget shortfall.

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, national deputy chief medical officer for
the American Cancer Society, said Monday that the tax hike would
raise an additional $354 million for the state every year while at
the same time decreasing the number of Georgians who light up.

Rep. Ron Stephens, a Savannah Republican, is sponsoring the
cigarette tax hike bill. He says it would help offset staggering
smoking-related health costs in the state. Georgia currently slaps
a 37-cent tax on cigarettes, one of the nation's lowest.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)