Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) has proposed a 233% hike in the cigarette tax, from 30 cents to $1 per pack, as part of a package to address a $456 million shortfall in the $19 billion biennial budget. Other actions he recommends include $147 million from a 4% spending cut and moving the use of $144 million in rainy day funds from next year to this year. More on Kentucky here.
