We hope.

A recent deal struck by Huntsman and legislative leaders included a call for a Sept. 20 special session to approve what's known as the two-track income tax, though it might more accurately be called the one-track mindset of some politicians. There's an election coming up. Better pander to the people with an unwise and unhelpful tax cut.

The governor's people say he's on it. But there's little time left to educate lawmakers and the public on the plan. And even less time for public input to improve, or kill, this Frankenstein's monster of a deal.

The idea is to allow Utah income tax payers to choose one of two ways to figure their bill.

One would be pretty much the current system, with expanded brackets to make it a little more progressive and rates up to the current 7 percent. The other would offer a flat rate of 5.3 percent, with none of the deductions that are available to those who choose the higher rate.

Taxpayers, in the bargain, would get an income tax cut of some $70 million.

In the weeks since the deal was announced, the governor has reportedly done little to follow through.

Which is fine, given that the plan would complicate tax preparation for individuals, make it harder to forecast state revenues and is all but certain to disproportionately benefit higher-income households at the expense of underfunded public schools.

Also on the tentative menu was a move to allow Wasatch Front counties to raise sales taxes to speed the construction of public transit projects. There is some appeal in doing that, and doing it quickly, so that the November elections could allow Salt Lake County voters to choose the sales-tax option over an $895 million property tax levy designed to serve the same purpose.

But, like the other matters that are being considered for the one-day session, such a major decision ought not be run through just so legislators can say they did something right before the election.

Forget the special session. Come back in January, and do it right.