4.5 Billion Glimpses of Tax Returns filed in 2004, says Treasury

The Joint Committee on Taxation reported that four and and a half BILLION disclosures of tax returns were made to Congressional Committees, Federal agencies and states for tax returns and related documents filed in 2004. The Department of Treasury is required to report who was reviewed, what was reviewed and why the disclosure was made.

I guess it depends on your point of view as whether these disclosures were made for public interest reasons or whether this was an example of "Big Brother Snooping". Another interesting question: how many times were tax returns of major politicians examined by media organizations and "Judical Watch"-style organizations.