Aide Takes Blame for Tax Return Provision

[Rose Siding]

...Richard E. Efford, a 19-year veteran of the House Appropriations Committee, said he did not inform any elected official before inserting the provision and advised his immediate boss, Rep. Ernest J. Istook Jr. (R-Okla.), only after it was too late to make changes. He said other House and Senate appropriations staffers in both parties were aware of the provision, however, and believed it gave them needed authority to enter facilities of the Internal Revenue Service to inspect how taxpayer funds were being used.
........
As the top staffer on the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the IRS budget, Efford said, he had a responsibility to inspect IRS facilities, observe computer programs and assess whether requests for additional tax enforcement personnel were justified.

But the IRS objected to on-site visits, he said. "They said if someone's return was up on a computer screen and you glanced at it there would be a release of taxpayer information," a breach of privacy laws the IRS could not accept, Efford said.

IRS officials suggested that he seek authorization from the House Ways and Means Committee, whose chairman has a right under the tax code to designate staffers to examine returns and files for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of tax law.

"I thought, why should Appropriations Committee staff have to go beg another committee for the right to review how appropriated funds were being used," Efford said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29908-2004Dec2.html

[eleny]

1. Oh please - let me hold my side

Next he'll be quitting his job to go spend more time with his family.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Oh no .......

... no "family time" cop out here .... I bet he gets a bonus!

[eleny]

4. Well paint me blue and throw me on the barn floor

I forgot how it really goes!

[Pirate Smile]

3. This part of it better not be true and I assume he is lying -

"He said other House and Senate appropriations staffers in both parties were aware of the provision,"

I find that very hard to believe and the staffers do all this on their own - I guess we know where the power is - the staffers. What a joke!

[rodeodance]

5. wonder how much he got paid to be the fall guy!!

[LSdemocrat]

6. Reminds me of a quote from the movie "The American President"

Michael J. Fox's character said "I can't be involved in something illegal. In situations like this it's always a guy like me who does 8-10 months in Danbury minimum security prison."

[MaineDem]

7. Kick

This is pretty important, I'd think.

Will he be fired? Silly woman, of course not; they're Republicans! There's never any consequence for poor performance.

[underpants]

8. No mention of firing or any accountability or even regret

This reaks from here

[RuleofLaw]

9. Let me get this straight

An aide inserts a provision into a federal bill, that that has not been approved by any member of Congress. Knowing that it would be highly unlikely the provision would be noticed in a 300 page big bill.

Anyone else having a problem with this?

And we qualify this as a mistake. If I was an aide I think I would insert a provision giving me immunity for all future speeding tickets in the US.

This is BS. No way an aid would insert any language in a bill, to become law, without the consent of his boss.

[Rose Siding]

12. The motivation of the confession is pride of place

I'm not sure how it works on the Hill, but it makes sense that some of the career staffers must be doing some of the high level work. Now, whether the horrid idea he's copping to was actually his horrid idea, or the idea of an elected repub is my question.

If he really did it, and pride motivated him, he's more likely to gain repub respect than a reprimand. Grabbing power, covertly or otherwise is very big right now.

[grumpy old fart]

10. Total B.S.

Now that the rules on torture are off, can't we just beat this guy until he gives up the repuke that told him to take the fall?? Or maybe we can use some of the money the Dems refuse to use on recounts to bribe the guy?

[Sara Beverley]

11. Maybe people will finally understand who really makes the laws in this

country and who really runs our government. That's why it is so important to elect qualified, good people to Congress who will hire staff who have the best interest of the American people at heart. Republicans, conservatives, the RW staffers have their marching orders and agendas and they know how to get around debate and exposure. You get the government you deserve when you remain ignorant, disinterested, fearful.

[GoldenOldie]

13. Once again our Inept Reps fail to represent

Why should a candidates educational background...are they a graduate of Yale/Harvard, etc., have any bearing on his/her ability to perform their duties???? It is very apparent that our duly elected Representatives do not have the time to read and research or understand what is presented to them by their clerks to sign-off on and it matters little to them 0how and when their laws and regulations can and will affect our Nation and it's citizens. That is, until they are questioned by the Liberal Media?????

[Supersedeas]

14. Now that's power...accountability to the people-NONE...ability to make

some serious money on the side from fatcats-JUST ONE OF THE PERKS OF BEING A CONGRESSIONAL AIDE for a Congressman who doesn't really know what's in the Bill.

Republican "Family" Values strike again.

[mrtibbs]

15. What a surprise.

[zann725]

16. But arent' they going to privatize IRS collection anyway?

So let me guess, the laws WON'T apply to the private companies collecting FOR the I.R.S., the same way Military Contractors in Iraq appear to be 'above the law' there?

[TahitiNut]

17. An ordinary Accounts Payable department has better controls!

In the interests of 'efficiency,' the controls and safeguards of Congress's legislative processes have been abandoned to the 'leadership' cabal.

[tsuki]

18. Can you tell me how many "aides" are writing legislation?

The news media should be all over this.

[Lostnote03]

19. If It Worked .....

....for San Diego vs the Railroad at the turn of the century hell why not try again.....