DES MOINES - Gov. Chet Culver is urging Iowans to contact their state representatives and lobby them to vote for a $1 cigarette tax increase as the Iowa House prepares for a vote that could come as early as Tuesday.

At a news conference Monday, Culver took the unusual step of announcing the Iowa House switchboard number – 515-281-3221 – and asking the public to contact their legislators.

“This is important, and for all Iowans who care about saving lives, improving access to health care, we need your support. And together we will give all Iowans a brighter and a healthier future,” Culver said.

Culver is optimistic the measure, which cleared the Iowa Senate last week, will have the 51votes it needs to clear the House.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said the House plans to debate the cigarette tax Tuesday afternoon, although that could change.

“I think we’re going to be at 51,” McCarthy said. “We’ve been moving in that direction. This gets about 75 percent popularity in the polls.”

McCarthy said special accommodations have been arranged for one of the bill’s leading backers, Rep. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, when she returns from maternity leave for the vote.

Culver argues the tax will save 17,000 or more lives, encourage people to quit smoking and discourage 37,000 young people from picking up the habit.

The governor wants to use cigarette tax revenues to provide health insurance for 50,000 Iowa children who are without it today.

“Iowa could become the first state in the nation to actually cover every child,” Culver said.

Another 6,500 parents could be insured with the cigarette tax revenue, Culver said.

Culver was joined at the news conference by Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference.

“As you know, we’re very much a pro-life church, and life is our No. 1 issue. And this is going to save a lot of lives,” Chapman said.

Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.