FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky lawmakers are considering raising the state’s cigarette tax, the Huntington Herald Dispatch reports. Facing possible cuts in education spending has several Democrats exploring how doubling the state’s current 30-cent per pack cigarette tax could make ends meet.

“It’s a matter of how deep the cuts are,” said state Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley. “If they get into K-12, then I think we need to look at the option of increasing the cigarette tax.”

Worley said he and a Democratic majority would be in favor of a cigarette tax hike instead of slashing the budget for primary or secondary education.

On the Democrat-controlled House side, budget committee chairman Harry Moberly indicated that more members appear open to raising the tax instead of cutting education. Moberly said increasing the tax between 20 and 25 cents would likely generate between $90 million and $110 million, which is far short of the half-billion needed to make up the budget’s shortfall next year.

House Majority Caucus Chairman Charlie Hoffman and Majority Whip Rob Wilkey told the newspaper that they are in “serious discussions” about a cigarette tax hike.

Gov. Steve Beshear has indicated that he opposes any tax increase “at this time.”