The debate over expansion for children’s health care coverage in the new budget may now have what many consider to be an official ‘escape clause.’

Word late today is that the initiative to raise the price of a pack of cigarettes in California by $2.60– and use the money on a variety of health and hospital needs– has qualified for the November ballot.

The initiative was a compromise deal struck between different health and medical advocacy groups, and would direct the resulting $2 billion in tobacco tax revenues to a host of programs, including: disease prevention, medical research, and emergency room care. And as mentioned earlier, it will also provide money for full health coverage for all children in the state.

And that, say many Capitol watchers, could be a way around the current stymied political debate over children’s health programs, given the debate’s focus on how illegal immigrant children would also be eligible.