FRANKFORT - Northern Kentucky Rep. Jon Draud and a handful of other state lawmakers want smokers to pay 44 cents more a pack for cigarettes, a move they say will curb teen smoking and also generate enough money to give raises to teachers.

''I'm not interested in trying to reform adults. But kids are very vulnerable,'' said Draud, R-Crestview Hills, on Thursday just before heading to a rally at the Capitol, where 400 high school students cheered on the increase.

Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, is also a primary sponsor of the bill, which would target not only cigarettes but also other tobacco products, including chewing tobacco and snuff.

Kentucky has the highest percentage of middle school smokers in the country. Besides cutting down on youth smoking, the measure would also generate $200 million in new revenues, which the state could use for teacher raises, mental health initiatives and other issues that may not get funded in these tight budget times.

''We're really at a crossroads in education again because we don't have any money,'' said Draud, a former local school superintendent. ''This would resolve that problem.''

But many other legislators are saying it's unlikely such a measure could pass the legislature, which remains a strong supporter of tobacco farmers.

''At this time, I don't see the bill having a lot of support,'' said Rep. Tom McKee, D-Cynthiana, who is also a tobacco farmer.

Proposed tax increases have found little support in the General Assembly of late. The Senate, controlled by Republicans, has repeatedly expressed its disinterest in raising taxes.

The governor has also stayed away from the issue. First Lady Judi Patton spoke against youth smoking at the rally, but didn't speak for or against raising the excise tax. Gov. Paul Patton hasn't taken a position.

But Draud and the other lawmakers sponsoring the bill say raising the tax would only tax smokers, not the general public, and would limit kids' access to tobacco products.

''This is a tax, but it's only a tax that comes out of smokers' pockets,'' said Rep. Ira Branham, D-Pikeville. Kentucky's cigarette tax is the second-lowest in the country at 3 cents per pack.

The bill, which was filed Thursday, would raise it to 47 cents per pack. That's just above the national average of 45.4 cents per pack.

In Kentucky, a pack of cigarettes now costs about $3.50.

McKee said raising the tax would further hurt an already struggling industry.

Tobacco farmers have seen their quotas slashed in recent years and most are turning to other crops to make their livings.

''It seems like just another slap on the face to the tobacco industry, from the farmer to the (tobacco) company to the consumer,'' he said.

Other representatives sponsoring the bill are: Thomas Burch, D-Louisville; Tim Feeley, R-Crestwood; Kathy Stein, D-Lexington; and Jim Wayne, D-Louisville.

Cigarette excise taxes

Kentucky's excise tax is the second lowest in the country at 3 cents per pack. Only Virginia is lower, at 2.5 cents a pack.

The state with the highest tax is Washington, where a $1.42 tax was set earlier this year.

New York will become the highest in April when a new law raises its tax to $1.50 a pack.