Staff | ABC 7 News

Maryland's House is poised to double the state tobacco tax to two dollars a pack to pay for better health care for the poor - but the proposal's chances remain slim in the state Senate.

A bill coming up for a House vote this week would raise an estimated 190 million dollars next fiscal year to pay for much of a Medicaid expansion that would nearly triple how much adults can earn and still qualify for state assistance with health care.

The increase is aimed at chipping away at the estimated 750,000 to 800,000 Marylanders with no health insurance.

Obstacles remain for the health plan, however. Many Republicans are planning to oppose the idea, and the Senate has not yet even considered a similar plan.

Supporters have already ratcheted back the measure, dropping state incentives for small employers to offer health insurance and a provision requiring people comfortably above federal poverty guidelines to buy health insurance or pay a fine to the state.