Istook m-istook

Bad headline I know, but the mystery over who's responsible for inserting the tax return provision in the omnibus appropriations bill just gets better and better.

WASHINGTON--Sen. Ted Stevens on Monday showed reporters a handwritten legislative proposal from an IRS employee that slipped into and nearly stopped the massive appropriations bill passed by Congress this weekend.
Stevens said the note proves that neither he nor any other Republican had crafted the potentially privacy-invading language.

The language, which could allow certain congressional employees to look at tax returns, created a furor on the Senate floor Saturday when discovered. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called it an "abuse of power."

"Not our fault. It was just a little old post-it note that somehow inserted itself."

This comes via Josh Marshall, who is following this fascinating look into the appropriations process, the intra-party relations of Republicans and, oh, so much more.