Payoff_VV0 from_II cigarette_NN1 tax_NN1 increase_NN1 is_VBZ multifaceted_VVN Some_DD members_NN2 of_IO the_AT West_NP1 Virginia_NP1 Legislature_NN1 want_VV0 to_TO increase_VVI the_AT cigarette_NN1 tax_NN1 as_II a_AT1 way_NN1 of_IO discouraging_JJ smoking_NN1 ,_, particularly_RR among_II young_JJ people_NN ,_, and_CC as_II a_AT1 way_NN1 to_TO generate_VVI revenue_NN1 for_IF health_NN1 programs_NN2 ._. 
The_AT proposed_JJ tax_NN1 increase_NN1 would_VM bring_VVI West_NP1 Virginia_NP1 up_II21 to_II22 the_AT national_JJ average_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Herald-Dispatch_NP1 Boosting_VVG West_NP1 Virginia_NP1 's_GE cigarette_NN1 tax_NN1 could_VM help_VVI the_AT state_NN1 accomplish_VV0 a_AT1 couple_NN1 of_IO things_NN2 ._. 
First_MD ,_, paying_VVG more_RRR for_IF cigarettes_NN2 might_VM convince_VVI more_DAR people_NN to_TO quit_VVI smoking_JJ or_CC decide_VV0 never_RR to_TO start_VVI ,_, thus_RR improving_VVG their_APPGE health_NN1 outlooks_NN2 while_CS cutting_VVG the_AT state_NN1 's_GE health_NN1 care_NN1 tab_NN1 in_II the_AT years_NNT2 ahead_RL ._. 
Second_MD ,_, the_AT revenue_NN1 generated_VVN from_II the_AT higher_JJR tax_NN1 can_VM help_VVI pay_NN1 for_IF important_JJ state_NN1 initiatives_NN2 related_VVN to_II health_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ the_AT idea_NN1 behind_II a_AT1 proposal_NN1 in_II this_DD1 year_NNT1 's_GE just-started_JJ legislative_JJ session_NNT1 to_TO raise_VVI the_AT tax_NN1 ._. 
West_NP1 Virginia_NP1 's_GE tax_NN1 on_II cigarettes_NN2 currently_RR is_VBZ 55_MC cents_NNU2 a_AT1 pack_NN1 ,_, less_RRR than_CSN half_DB the_AT average_NN1 of_IO about_RG $1.20_NNU now_RT levied_VVN by_II the_AT 50_MC states_NN2 and_CC the_AT District_NN1 of_IO Columbia_NP1 ._. 
Thirty-eight_MC states_NN2 and_CC the_AT District_NN1 of_IO Columbia_NP1 have_VH0 higher_JJR taxes_NN2 on_II cigarettes_NN2 ._. 
The_AT West_NP1 Virginia_NP1 Legislature_NN1 's_GE health_NN1 and_CC human_JJ resources_NN2 committees_NN2 have_VH0 put_VVN forth_RR a_AT1 legislative_JJ package_NN1 focused_VVN on_II health_NN1 care_NN1 initiatives_NN2 ,_, and_CC a_AT1 key_JJ piece_NN1 for_IF funding_VVG those_DD2 is_VBZ a_AT1 proposal_NN1 to_TO raise_VVI the_AT state_NN1 's_GE cigarette_NN1 tax_NN1 by_II 65_MC cents_NNU2 to_II $1.20_NNU ._. 
The_AT committees_NN2 '_GE chairmen_NN2 say_VV0 the_AT higher_JJR tax_NN1 will_VM generate_VVI $110_NNU million_NNO annually_RR to_TO treat_VVI and_CC prevent_VVI chronic_JJ disease_NN1 associated_VVN with_IW smoking_NN1 ._. 
The_AT funding_NN1 also_RR would_VM be_VBI used_VVN to_TO defray_VVI costs_NN2 for_IF Medicaid_NP1 expansion_NN1 ,_, provide_VV0 tax_NN1 credits_VVZ for_IF small_JJ businesses_NN2 so_CS they_PPHS2 can_VM offer_VVI health_NN1 insurance_NN1 and_CC pay_VVI for_IF an_AT1 array_NN1 of_IO health_NN1 information_NN1 technology_NN1 initiatives_NN2 ._. 
Gov_NN1 ._. 
Joe_NP1 Manchin_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS has_VHZ made_VVN improving_JJ health_NN1 care_NN1 access_NN1 for_IF West_NP1 Virginia_NP1 's_GE uninsured_JJ a_AT1 priority_NN1 this_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, and_CC top_JJ legislative_JJ leaders_NN2 have_VH0 n't_XX exactly_RR jumped_VVN on_II the_AT bandwagon_NN1 for_IF the_AT proposed_JJ tax_NN1 increase_NN1 ._. 
However_RR ,_, Manchin_NP1 said_VVD that_CST he_PPHS1 would_VM consider_VVI an_AT1 unspecified_JJ increase_NN1 in_II the_AT cigarette_NN1 tax_NN1 if_CS that_DD1 was_VBDZ necessary_JJ to_TO help_VVI pay_NN1 for_IF expanding_VVG Medicaid_JJ health_NN1 insurance_NN1 coverage_NN1 for_IF the_AT state_NN1 's_GE working_VVG poor_JJ ._. 
While_CS smokers_NN2 may_VM not_XX like_VVI the_AT idea_NN1 of_IO paying_VVG more_RRR for_IF cigarettes_NN2 ,_, they_PPHS2 should_VM realize_VVI that_CST the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 costs_NN2 related_VVN to_II the_AT use_NN1 of_IO tobacco_NN1 ultimately_RR is_VBZ spread_VVN to_II everyone_PN1 who_PNQS pays_VVZ into_II the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 system_NN1 ._. 
Non-smokers_NN2 have_VH0 n't_XX been_VBN let_VVN off_II the_AT hook_NN1 for_IF those_DD2 costs_NN2 ._. 
