In a meeting of a subcommittee assigned to come up with a reform of the state's income tax, Democrats sought to modify a flat-tax recommendation before it went to the full task force for consideration. They wanted to include a comparison between the flat tax and a graduated-tax proposal they say would protect Utah's working families from tax hikes.

The so-called Jones-Mascaro proposal has been kicking around the Republican-controlled Legislature for three years, but has never come up for a vote. The plan, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Pat Jones of Holladay and Republican Rep. Steve Mascaro, of West Jordan, would, among other things, phase out state income-tax exemptions beyond two per household, expand tax brackets and index them for inflation.

Jones-Mascaro supporters argue the plan would shift a greater burden of taxation to the wealthy and reduce taxes for most low- and middle-income families.

Mascaro and Jones complain Republican leaders, who favor a flat tax, are blocking open debate on their proposal, which a legislative committee referred to the task force for study.

The task force is to report back to the Legislature with a proposal for reforming Utah's tax structure.

Jones and Mascaro presented their proposal Thursday to the subcommittee as "citizens" because neither is a member of the task force.

Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City, and Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake City, later were rebuffed when they attempted to put before the full task force a comparison of the impacts of flat tax versus the Jones-Mascaro proposal.

Becker proposed that comparison charts be compiled for the task force that include the flat tax in its various forms along with Jones-Mascaro and the current system. "These comparisons are helpful to understand the consequences of these proposals."

Instead, the Republican-controlled subcommittee recommended the task force consider a 4 percent flat tax on federal adjusted gross income with no deductions, exemptions or credits - but no comparison charts to other proposals.

Sen. Curt Bramble, Senate chairman of the task force, who has said he wanted a "robust discussion" of tax reform, said Thursday the flat-tax recommendation is meant only as a starting point for the full group.

"It just moves the discussion forward," he said.

Jones said the 87 percent of Utah households that earn less than $75,000 annually would lose under most so-called flat-tax concepts, while the wealthy would benefit.

"Some people may argue with the exact numbers, but the trends are there," Jones said. "There is a shifting. It's very clear where that shift occurs."

Bramble dismissed the Jones-Mascaro proposal as a "redistribution of wealth" plan.

Noting that both tax plans redistribute wealth to one extent or another, Mascaro asked the subcommittee to give the public a "complete picture" by producing a side-by-side comparison of the proposals.

"It's not that we are trying to soak the rich," Jones said in an interview. "It's that the rich have been getting some fine deductions all along and we want to even it out."

After the meeting ended, frustration bubbled to the surface as Jones heatedly confronted Bramble. "Why have we not been called in to present it [Jones-Mascaro] - before you went ahead with a flat tax?"

That decision was the subcommittee's, Bramble replied. "If the task force has an appetite to revisit Jones-Mascaro, it will."

"Let's not play political games," Jones responded. "The public doesn't want politics in this. . . . Let's make it transparent. Maybe [Jones-Mascaro] is not the best proposal - but let's discuss it."

Finally, an exasperated Jones asked Bramble, "What are you afraid of? You've got all the votes anyway."