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• Cigarette tax may finance universal health coverage 

Democrats unveiled a plan Wednesday that would offer universal health coverage, with funding coming from a $1 per pack increase in the state’s cigarette tax.

‘‘We cannot reach universal health care without a large infusion of public dollars,’’ said Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines.

Hatch and Rep. Ro Foege, D-Mount Vernon, head the Health and Human Services Budget Committee, which will begin hearings on the issue next week.

Under the plan, the cigarette tax increase would be approved this year, raising about $134 million. About half of that money would plug the gaps in current health care programs for the elderly and poor, such as Medicaid and free clinics.

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