State Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison) hope the Governor's proposed $1.25 a pack increase in the cigarette tax will survive a budget conference committee.
Pocan says it's a politically easy tax to pass and even some Republicans have come forward to say they could vote for a "sin tax" on cigarettes, without breaking a "no tax increase" pledge.
It's estimated the tax would cost smokers more than $500 million over two years.
Pocan thinks the proposal, or something close to it, will be in the final budget.