Tax return scandal in spending bill; Republicans say I didn't do it, my hand did it

In an incredible turn of mendacity, Republicans are now pulling the "I didn't do it, my hand did it" defense of a two-year-old when questioned about how a tax return access component was wedged into the last-minute spending bill in the Senate. The provision, supposedly sneaked into the 1,000-page document by a Senate staffer, would have allowed two committee chairmen to view the tax return of any American. Some senators and representatives are not pleased. From CNN:

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
The Republicans' lack of transparency and willingness to abuse their power is undermining democracy. It should be of grave concern to all Americans that their privacy could be invaded by such an outrageous provision.

John McCain (R- AZ)
If there is ever a graphic example of the broken system that we now have, that certainly has to be it. How many other provisions didn't we find in that 1,000-page bill?

Charles Schumer (D-NY)
This harkens back to the days of [FBI Director] J. Edgar Hoover, when some unknown person could go and snoop on you.