Public heath advocates and the business community are calling for a $2 increase in the cigarette tax to address the effects of smoking.

At a news conference at the Statehouse today, advocates argued increasing the cigarette tax would save millions in public health costs while raising millions to deal with the negative effects of smoking.

You can hear the news conference in the Leon-Tailored audio above.  The first segment is the news conference, while the second is Q & A with Kevin Brinegar of the State Chamber of Commerce.

A poll taken last month by Indy Politics of 600 likely voters showed more than 60 percent supported raising the cigarette tax by $2 to deal with public health issues.