Illinois could hike cigarette tax by $1-per-pack.

Public health advocates and anti-smoking lawmakers hope aiming for smokers’ wallets can raise money and / or curb smoking.

Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) (pictured) joined medical groups for a news conference at the Capitol Tuesday to announce a proposal to increase the cigarette tax by a dollar a pack.

“The governor’s proposal in cigarette taxes was actually pretty modest,” Cullerton said. “We have tripled his initial request, because we know that we can actually affect behavior.”

The current tax on a pack of smokes is $1.98. The governor had proposed a 32-cent increase.

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