JOHNSTON, Iowa -- The Iowa Legislature will likely increase the state's cigarette tax this year but at a lower level than the $1-per-pack increase proposed by Gov. Chet Culver, two key lawmakers said Thursday, the Associated Press reports.

State Sen. Joe Bolkcom, who heads the tax-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee, said most legislative leaders feel comfortable with a hike of between 40 and 60 cents per pack, notes the news source.

"It's been widely vetted around the state," state Sen. Bolkcom told the news source. "Gov. Culver campaigned on it and got elected on it. At the end of the day we will in fact raise the cigarette tax.”

The ranking Republican on the committee, Sen. Larry McKibben, conceded that an increase is likely now that Democrats control both chambers. "Certainly with the new team in place, if they want the increase, they'll get the increase," he said. Iowa’s state cigarette tax is currently 36 cents per pack.

Meanwhile, Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner proposed increasing the state’s cigarette tax by 45 cents a pack during her State-of-State speech last week, the Associated Press reports.

Delaware House Majority Leader Wayne Smith said the tax proposal, which would increase the state cigarette tax to $1 per pack, will be hard to sell among lawmakers.

Also, a proposal to raise the cigarette tax $1 per pack that languished last year in the Wisconsin Legislature is gaining momentum, supporters say.

Capital Newspapers reports that Wisconsin’s governor and Democrat-controlled state Senate are open to such a hike. Republicans control the Wisconsin Assembly, but several GOP lawmakers sponsored legislation to increase raise the cigarette tax $1 during the last session. If passed, the proposal would raise the cigarette tax to $1.77 per pack.