Democrat US senator says writer of tax return provision should be held to account

WASHINGTON (AP) â€“ Oklahoma Congressman Ernest Istook denies that he was behind a controversial provision included in a federal spending bill.<br/><br/>The provision would have given some members of Congress

Monday, November 22nd 2004, 1:39 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) â€“ Oklahoma Congressman Ernest Istook denies that he was behind a controversial provision included in a federal spending bill.

The provision would have given some members of Congress access to individual income tax records. It was removed from the federal bill.

Istook is chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees the IRS and says the provision was an honest mistake. He says the intent was to provide access to IRS processing centers for oversight -- not to review individual returns.

He says it was written by the Internal Revenue Service at the request of Appropriations Committee staff.

There was no immediate comment from the IRS.