Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Politics
House aide takes blame for tax return provision


A 19-year veteran staff member of the House Appropriations Committee took the blame for a controversial appropriations rider that would have allowed staffers to look at anyone's tax return but said he was "dumbfounded" by the uproar it generated.

Richard E. Efford told The Washington Post the language was necessary to determine whether the IRS was using funds appropriately. He said the IRS wouldn't let outsiders look at a $1 billion computer system and other improvements due to privacy issues surrounding personal tax returns. The rider alleviated those concerns, he said.

The provision was inserted without the knowledge of top lawmakers, leading the Senate to repeal it from the 2005 omnibus appropriations act. The House will return to work on Monday to remove the rider.

Get the Story:
Aide Takes Blame for Tax Return Provision (The Washington Post 12/3)
pwpwd

Funding Tables:
BIA-OST | IHS

Bill Language:
BIA | OST | IHS/IAIA/NMAI

Statements on Funding:
BIA-OST | IHS/IAIA

Consolidated Appropriations Act:
Bill Text | Joint Explanatory Statement | HR 4818

Related Stories:
Controversy over tax return provision continues (11/24)
Istook denies asking for tax return provision (11/23)
Congress approves $388 billion spending package (11/23)
High rates of reservation crime an issue for Congress (11/23)
House passes $19.5 billion Interior budget bill (6/18)
Bush says housing program he's cutting is 'working' (08/12)
House panel restores Bush's Indian budget cuts (6/15)
Tribal leaders hope to counteract Bush budget cuts (04/13)
Budget resolution barely clears House vote (03/26)
Tribes challenge policy affecting federal housing funds (05/04)
Indian housing funds face cuts in Bush budget (04/14)
Tribes tackle budget woes under Bush administration (4/14)
Budget resolution barely clears House vote (03/26)
Tribal leaders denounce BIA budget plans as reckless (03/24)
BIA education programs taking $79 million hit (3/23)
Proposed boost in IHS budget rejected by Senate (03/12)
Cuts run deep for tribal programs at BIA (03/09)
Senate panel shares criticism of Bush budget (02/12)
Tribal leaders pressing Congress on funding (02/11)
Bush seeks $3 billion for Indian Health Service (02/03)
Daschle criticizes Bush on Indian health funds (02/03)
Daschle asks Bush to increase funding for IHS (12/18)