Hacking Up a Huge Tobacco Tax Hike

A California coalition wants to hike cigarette taxes a whopping 300%. It would tack an extra $2.60 a pack on the price of smokes -- for a total of $3.47. That would make California's tobacco tax the highest in the nation.

The California Hospital Association and the American Cancer Society each led efforts to raise the tax. They've been joined by other groups including the American Lung Association of California and the American Heart Association.

The coalition plan to get the tax hike on the 2006 California ballot. (LAT)