My job involves handing US tax returns. Yes, I work for the IRS. The returns I see need work done on them, but usually the problem is IRS caused (think high school kids doing data entry for key stroke incentives). Thus the Istook Amendment really hit me. Of course, it should shock the soul of any sentinent person. After I cooled down I decided to write him. Since 99% of my written communication with others is via e-mail, I went his web site. The URL is www.house.gov/istook. If you want to visit, type the address in; don't click on a link. It seems the House created web sites have some interesting features. If the Rep. so chooses (I have no idea how many do) e-mails are retricted to people with Zip codes in the district. Also the site says that if you used a "bookmark" to reach the contact page, your e-mail will NOT be sent. These criteria and possibly others are checked at least twice (the state abbreviation in your address must match the Zip).
I finally got an email through with some gaming of the site. I assume it'll beignored, but it needed to be sent.
This is what I sent:
Rep. Istook,
I work for the IRS and deal daily with taxpayers about their returns. The privacy of their returns is absolute. No one ever discloses anything about any return to anyone except in special cases, to an IRS supervisor. We may not work the returns of anyone we know or are related to or might possibly know. One year I got the return of Karl Rove (my seeing a return does NOT indicate a problem with the return). Since I know well who Mr. Rove is I immediately took the return to a higher supervisor who did not know who Mr. Rove is. I did not look to see where Mr. Rove lived, nor at any of his financial data. I have no idea what the supervisor did nor do I care. I don't need to know, nor does anyone else. Mr. Rove's right to privacy on that material is absolute. The right of every other person in this country to total tax return pricay is absolute. That a political person might gain access toanyone's return and then be absolutely free to make the informatio so obtained public can destroy the tax system. by eliminating all taxpaer trust. Without a tax system there will be no government and you and I might well be out of our jobs. Please consider that when you reflect upon the amendment you recently offered.
I live in Drexel Hill, PA 19026 and while I understand your desire not to hear from me via e-mail, the issue requires I express my personal opinion
Respectfully offered