Maybe I'm just jaded by politics, but I honestly thought something like this was already possible. Surely, if (for example) terrorism is suspected with one or more individuals, law enforcement and government officials would have been able to get the tax info regardless of this provision introduced by Istook?
"Maybe I'm just jaded by politics, but I honestly thought s1omething like this was already possible."
Kind of like the "Patriot" Act, with little insertions providing that it can be used for lots of things other than terrorism investigations.
Congressional staffers cannot pull up your tax returns. Law enforcement is another matter, if they get a warrant I suppose. But Congress?? No way.