By KRWG News
New Mexico – A national campaign focused on keeping tobacco products out of children's hands is running a series of newspaper advertisements around New Mexico to encourage state lawmakers to consider increasing the tax on cigarettes.
The New Mexico Legislature adjourned Thursday without a plan on how to finance public schools and state government in the coming year. They are scheduled to return Wednesday for a special session.
Legislative leaders have been trying to negotiate a deal to plug the budget deficit with revenues from gross receipts, income and cigarette taxes.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is running ads that favor a $1 increase in the tobacco tax in a handful of New Mexico newspapers this week.
The campaign claims the increase could raise nearly $36 million and keep kids from smoking.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.