A small group, including some large families with high mortgages and some retired seniors who now get a tax break, would pay more. But even those only saw increases of $10 to $100 or so a year, tax experts said.

As concern over unknown impacts rose among House Republicans in this election year — and as updated fiscal impacts showed the state could lose an extra $35 million under "H3" — support for Huntsman's flatter tax dropped. And in April, House GOP caucus members were talking about a special session where the $70 million would be given out this year, just slightly lowering the current 7 percent state income tax top rate.

Fearing a real opportunity to change Utahn's tax structure for the better could be lost, Huntsman and GOP leaders started talking over the last week about the new two-prong approach, several legislators told the Deseret Morning News.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com