Minnesota's cigarette tax may be going up - KSFY News - Sioux Falls, SD News, Weather, Sports

 Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has proposed a 94-cent tax hike on packs of cigarettes in an effort to dig the state out of its $1 billion budget deficit.

 Now, a Democratic house member wants to  take that a step further - more than doubling the current tax. 

 Representative Ann Lenczewski's proposal would raise the state's tax per pack by from $1.23 to $2.83.

 She says she's more motivated by public health concerns than by the tax money that would be raised.

 However, her proposal is projected to raise an additional $440 million over next two years.