Huntsman may call a session in June

Lawmakers pushing Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to add to the agenda of May's special session are going to have to wait for the Legislature to be called back a second time, likely in June.

Huntsman said Thursday during the taping of his monthly press conference on KUED Channel 7 that the May special session would be devoted to winning approval for his income tax reform plan — period.

Any other issues, except for possibly some technical budget corrections, will have to try for a spot on another special session that Huntsman suggested he'd call for June to deal with funding dental care for Medicaid recipients, among other unspecified issues.

The 2006 Legislature did not come up with $3.9 million needed to pay for the dental services, something the governor said he'd like to see addressed before the new budget year begins July 1.

"I fought for funding that was only good for a year last year," Huntsman said. "Similarly, I'm interested this year, along with a couple more issues. I hope we get around to them at some point."

He stopped short, however, of promising to call a second special session in June. But postponing action in May on issues other than tax reform will give the governor some leverage over lawmakers who may be reluctant to go along with his plan.

That's because the governor alone controls when lawmakers are called into special session — and what's on the agenda. So those legislators who want their bills on the June agenda will no doubt think twice about opposing the governor's tax plan.

His $70 million income tax reform plan failed the final night of the general session, despite an agreement with legislative leaders on a tax-cut package that also includes a reduction in the sales tax on food and tax breaks for businesses.

House members stalled the income tax plan, complaining that it was too complicated and that they needed more time to consider it. The plan would reduce the top tax rate from 7 percent to about 5 percent but also eliminate most deductions.

The governor said he'll spend the next month lobbying for the proposal with the help of community leaders. "We'll make the experts available. We'll have all the numbers ready for them to take a look at," he said.

Huntsman's suggestion that he may call lawmakers back in June came as a surprise to legislative leaders Thursday, who said they had not previously heard any talk of more than one special session.