Outrage reared its head Sunday as members of the United States Senate began reading a mammoth monster of a bill they had just passed the day before.

It would be easy enough to say Congress got what it deserved for the way it has conducted the people’s business this year. Unfortunately, it’s the citizens who have to pay the full price for Congress’ failure, and everyone who files a tax return should be outraged.

On Saturday, the House and Senate passed an enormous $388 billion spending bill that will fund much of the federal government for the current fiscal year, which began on Oct. 1. The omnibus legislation, which rolled nine different appropriations bills into a single law, was a must-pass. Without it, the government would have had to shut down much of its work.

The problem with omnibus bills, however, is that they are massive and often conceal controversial, abusive and stupid provisions among thousands of legitimate appropriations. This year’s tome exceeded 3,000 pages, with plenty of egregious provisions.

Tucked inside was an insidious little item that didn’t feel the heat of contempt until after the bill had been signed. One little line would have allowed the chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations committees and their staffs to see any individual’s income tax return.

By law, the IRS must protect the privacy of tax returns. They are supposed to be off-limits to just about everybody, and especially to politicians who could use the information against their opponents.

Republican Rep. Ernest Istook was responsible for that language in the omnibus bill, but Republican leaders in both the House and Senate have said it won’t be allowed to stand. A special session is planned for today to fix this mess and make sure Istook’s provision never takes effect.

Omnibus bills are a dereliction of duty by Congress. They wrap thousands of unrelated items together into a bill that can’t be turned down. There’s little or no debate on most provisions, most members of Congress don’t have a chance to read the fine print before they vote, and provisions that could never stand full public scrutiny become law.

Such as $2 million to reacquire the presidential yacht.

Such as $335,000 to protect sunflowers from birds.

Such as $60 million for a new courthouse in New Mexico.

There’s no accountability.

This type of legislation is wasteful and abusive. The omnibus bill is an affront to the legislative process. With government firmly in the hands of a single party, this type of undisciplined governance should stop.