COLUMBUS, Ohio - Smokers would pay more in state taxes under the budget proposed by Gov. John Kasich and vapor products, primarily e-cigarettes, would be added to the tobacco tax products.

The budget proposes raising the price-per-pack cigarette tax from $1.60 to $2.25. Taxes on other tobacco products also would be adjusted to keep them uniform with the cigarette tax.

The increase is part of a group of revenue proposals from the governor that would allow the state to crunch income tax brackets and reduce rates.

The changes to the income tax rates is expected to cost the state $3.127 billion over two years. The increases in cigarette taxes are projected to raise nearly $660 million.

Ohio Tax Commissioner Joseph Testa, in explaining the plan, noted that Pennsylvania's cigarette tax was just increased to $2.60 a pack.

Reaction to the proposal varied widely.

A joint statement released by American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the March of Dimes said the increase isn't nearly large enough.

"Research shows the proposed tax increase of 65 cents is too low to have any real public health impact. We strongly support the recommendation offered by the Infant Mortality Commission during the spring of 2016 to increase the cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack," the groups said. "Making tobacco significantly more expensive is proven to reduce use and thereby reduce the number of tobacco-related deaths.

"There is no doubt that tax increases on all tobacco products would generate additional revenue, but more importantly, they will discourage tobacco use, especially among our youth," the groups said.

Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, said the move would be bad for the economy.

"Gov. Kasich's new tax on vapor products could kill over one hundred small businesses throughout the state," Conely said. "In a state with nearly 2,000,000 adult smokers, Ohio should not be discouraging adult smokers from quitting."

One third of the vapor retail business went under, Conely said, when Pennsylvania increased its taxes 40 percent. Ohio's increase, amounting to 69 percent, would not be survivable, he said.

"Both the Royal College of Physicians and Public Health England have estimated vaping to be at least 95 percent less hazardous than smoking. Balancing the budget on the backs of smokers looking to quit is not just bad tax policy; it is also bad public health policy."