"I told you so" pales to how strong a rebuke Democrats deserve for not owning this issue from day one. It's an issue that every American is concerned about - their private tax records being sold - and who's the villain but George Bush's own IRS.
What part of this issue isn't a winner for Dems? Well, actually, none of it is a winner for Dems because now the Republicans own it. Bra-vo.
Consumer advocates worry that people who visit a tax preparer may be getting more than help with their tax returns. Taxpayers also could unknowingly or unthinkingly give away private information to companies marketing other products....
Last week, the committee endorsed a proposal by Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., to allow private tax information to be used only for tax preparation purposes. The information could not be shared, even with customer approval, for any other reason.
"This will give taxpayers greater peace of mind," said the committee's chairman, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. "They'll know that when they go to a tax preparer, the sensitive personal information they provide will be protected."
