FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Senate President David Williams called for a statewide smoking ban on Monday, a move he said would reduce the number of smokers in Kentucky -- the country's second largest burley tobacco producer.

A statewide ban could help cut down on the number of smokers, and improve Kentucky's overall health, Williams, a Burkesville Republican, said during a live television appearance.

Public buildings in rural outposts -- including restaurants, bars and government buildings -- would have the same smoking restrictions that some of Kentucky's largest cities have in place, Williams said.

"I think that would probably do more to send out the message that smoking is not an activity that should be done," Williams said. "I could support a statewide smoking ban that would allow people to be free from second and third hand smoke."

Williams' proposal comes as lawmakers discuss the possibility of raising Kentucky's tax on cigarettes -- currently one of the lowest in the nation.

Gov. Steve Beshear has proposed hiking Kentucky's cigarette tax, currently 30-cents a pack, to $1 a pack as a way to ease the state's money woes and boost public health.

Beshear, Williams and House Speaker Greg Stumbo appeared together Monday night at the state Capitol on Kentucky Educational Television's "Kentucky Tonight." Williams made the proposal during the broadcast.

Kentucky currently is facing a projected $456 million revenue shortfall during the fiscal year that ends June 30. The three lawmakers discussed their proposals for how Kentucky could offset the estimated budget hole.

Kentucky lawmakers have scheduled a meeting for Tuesday afternoon between the House and Senate budget committees to begin working on the matter. The full legislature is scheduled to return to business on Feb. 3, giving lawmakers the next few weeks to focus on the matter.

Nevertheless, Beshear has proposed forcing state employees to take off three unpaid furlough days and various cuts to government services. A centerpiece of Beshear's proposal is to hike the cigarette tax -- a move some say has the added benefit of reducing smoking among teenagers and pregnant women.

Williams said a statewide smoking ban would have that same health effect.

While Kentucky remains one of the top tobacco-producing states in the nation, more and more towns across the state have been restricting indoor smoking in various locations.

Some have enacted stringent bans on smoking in public buildings, while others have made exceptions for places such as bingo halls or isolated rooms that have ventilation systems.

Kentucky has had historically high smoking and cancer rates.

As of last year, there were 13 cities and seven counties in Kentucky that had in place some level of a smoking ban in their jurisdictions. Nationally, more than 20 states and the District of Columbia have outlawed smoking in most public buildings.

Beshear and Stumbo both said they personally open to the idea, but needed to gauge whether there's support among lawmakers.

Stumbo, a Prestonsburg Democrat who was elevated to House speaker last week, said he has implemented a smoking ban in his Capitol office.

"I don't smoke. I'm allergic to smoke on a personal level, and I don't have any problem in encouraging our members to follow what Senator Williams has offered," Stumbo told reporters later.

Beshear was a bit more pragmatic.

"I think in theory it's the way we ought to go," the governor said. "What we're going to have to do is really look and see whether there's enough support to do that. Obviously it works in the cities where they've put it in."