SALT LAKE CITY - Earlier this month, the Utah legislature approved a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase contained in a budget bill and Gov. Gary Herbert said he would not use his veto on the measure, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

"Politics is the art of compromise," said Herbert. "Public education is my number-one priority. Am I going to come down on the side of education or am I going to veto the tobacco tax? I can??t do both."

Utah lawmakers added $44 million to the state budget in faith that the tax increase would pass, and the governor said vetoing the bill would put the state budget in jeopardy. Herbert has indicated that he will not sign the measure until after the final budget vote. However, if he does nothing by March 31, the bill will automatically become law.

Meanwhile, the California Assembly has okayed a smoking ban at nearly 300 state beaches and parks, the Los Angeles Times reports. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not indicated publicly whether or not he will sign the bill. The bill calls for fines of up to $100 for smoking on state beaches or in designated sections of state parks.