GOP aide blamed for tax return provision [View All]

[Pepper32]

By Alan Fram
Associated Press
Published December 5, 2004

WASHINGTON -- A Republican House aide was the prime mover behind a provision letting more lawmakers look at Americans' income tax returns, according to a spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee.

That aide is Rich Efford, who heads the GOP staff of the panel's subcommittee that controls the Internal Revenue Service's budget, committee spokesman John Scofield said Friday.
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The IRS requires the letter for entry to areas where tax returns might be seen. Congressional aides visit IRS offices as part of their oversight responsibility and say returns are examined only in rare instances, such as criminal investigations.
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