RALEIGH, N.C. - Health care advocates and a group of Democratic legislators pushed again Wednesday for an increase in North Carolina's excise tax on cigarettes, saying it's needed to curb teen smoking.

About three dozen supporters of the tax increase, including 10 legislators, said at a news conference that they think support is growing for the proposal.

"It is time for us to join states around the country who are doing this," said Rep. Jennifer Weiss, D-Wake.

Weiss is among the sponsors of a bill that would raise the state's excise tax on cigarettes from 5 cents per pack to 75 cents.

The increase would raise an estimated $400 million.

North Carolina's current tax is the third-lowest in the country, although it is effectively the second-lowest because Virginia allows local governments to add to the state's 2.5 cent tax.

Despite their claims of support, the group of Democrats were joined neither by Republicans nor conservative Democrats from eastern counties where tobacco is still vital to the economy.

After the news conference, Rep. Dewey Hill, a conservative Democrat from tobacco-dependent Columbus County, didn't dispute that a tax increase on cigarettes has more momentum than in the past. But he still said he doubted that it could pass either the House or the Senate.

"I think some time in the future it would be more acceptable than it is now," Hill said.

"Our farmers are having a hard time. This would just put something else on them."

Added Rep. Gordon Allen, D-Person: "There are still a lot of people out there that believe tobacco made North Carolina."

Supporters argue that a tax increase will have a number of positive effects on both government and personal budgets. Besides lowering smoking rates, they say, it will help to bring down health care costs and insurance costs.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, a smoker, equated the tax increase with the state's seat belt law, saying it could save lives and lower insurance rates.

"We must do something to stem the growing tide of rising health care costs," Long said. "Increasing that tax to 75 cents will save tens of thousands of children from smoking."