SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A coalition of health organizations wants to quadruple the tax on a pack of cigarettes in California to boost funding for a variety of health programs.

The per-pack tax would jump by $2.60 under an initiative the coalition hopes to place on the November 2006 ballot, supporters said Tuesday. If voters approve the proposal, California's total tax on a pack of cigarettes would rise to $3.47, the highest in the nation.

The initiative combines tobacco tax measures from the California Hospital Association and the American Cancer Society. The new campaign includes the American Lung Association of California, the American Heart Association and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, among others.

Revenue from the higher tax would be directed to various health programs, including cancer screening, prevention and research, low-cost children's insurance, and tobacco education and cessation.

Great. Wonderful. And what happens after people actually quit smoking? These same health organizations will complain about the decline in tax dollars for their necessary and important health programs...and then they'll want get those dollars back from other places.

Maybe a sales tax hike. Maybe another sin tax. This time on hamburgers. Because we all know what a drain those fat, unhealthy hamburger eaters are on the rest of us.

Once these taxes are created they almost never really go away. But hey, its for the greater good right? Who cares? Tax away!