A proposal to raise taxes on cigarettes, led by State Rep. J.A. Hines, R-Oxford, earned the support of around 400 health care organizations, according to the Wisconsin Medical Society.

The current tax is 77 cents, but the new proposal would raise the tax by $1, bringing it to $1.77 a pack.

The proposal would raise more than $200 million for Medicaid and tobacco prevention programs.

The health care organizations in support of a tax increase launched their own campaign Jan. 27 to drum up interest in the proposal.

Director of City-County Health Department Jim Ryder said that one state has already raised taxes on packs of cigarettes.

“In Michigan’s case they raised from $1.25 to $2 (a pack),” he said.

Ryder stressed that he hopes students don’t smoke. “Hopefully they will think more about the cost of smoking,” he said.

Senior John Schaffer said he wouldn’t stop smoking if the tax were raised.

“I enjoy (smoking),” he said. “It’s society trying to make people feel bad about smoking and to segregate smokers. (The smokers) become labeled as bad people.”

Schaffer said he is against the proposed tax.

“I really can’t see (the tax) helping that much,” he said.

Junior Danielle Prosser said that she supports the added tax.

“I’d be for (the new tax) because cigarettes are not necessary like food,” she said. “If they’re willing to keep up the habit, then they’ll have to pay tax on it.”

Prosser also said she thinks that people aren’t going to stop smoking because of the proposed tax increase, but that the extra money generated from the increase could do some good.

“They’ll still buy them,” she said. “I hope it could help and go to a good cause.”