A plan to raise tobacco taxes in Arizona and use the money for early childhood education programs is being supported by a group of powerful Republican donors and businessmen, the Arizona Republic reported April 1.

GOP leaders like businessmen Jim Click, Ira Fulton, and Ross Farnsworth have helped raise more than $1.8 million to support the "First Things First" campaign, which supports the tobacco voter initiative.

"Most parents of middle-income and high-income children are going to make sure that their children get what they need when they are born," Click, a prominent car dealer and Republican fundraiser. "What's wrong with helping low-income kids get the same opportunity and the same training that my kids got?"

The plan calls for adding an additional 80-cents-per-pack tax to cigarettes to raise $150 million annually for literacy programs and health screenings for children. Backers need to gather 123,000 signatures to get the measure on the state ballot in November.

The added levy would give Arizona the nation's fourth-highest cigarette tax.

Republican Rick Renzi and Democrat Ed Pastor are key legislative sponsors of the plan. "I have communities in my district where there are 200 and 300 kids on waiting list for Head Start programs," said Renzi. "I'm not a tax-and-spender, but I'm willing to raise revenues from tobacco sales to help out early childhood education. I know that early childhood programs had a great effect on my little ones."