Bill Would Disclose Presidential Library Donors

http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/december2006/presdonors.cfm

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Posted December 1, 2006.

Bill Would Disclose Presidential Library Donors

The House Leadership and Open Government Act (H.R. 4682), which Democrats intend to pass after taking majority control in 2007, includes a section that would require the disclosure of all donations to a presidential library of $100 or more. Currently presidential libraries are federally maintained but use private endowments to offset operating costs.

“Any organization that is established for the purpose of raising funds for creating, maintaining, expanding, or conducting activities at a presidential archival depository… shall submit [disclosures] to the Administration, the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Government Affairs of the Senate on a quarterly basis,” reads one version of the bill. The legislation also states that such disclosures would be made publicly available online.

The November 27 New York Daily News reported that President Bush plans to raise an unprecedented $500 million for his presidential library. Campaign finance expert Brett Kappel told the November 29 Washington, D.C., weekly The Hill that passage of the ethics reform bill could complicate fundraising efforts, particularly from foreign sources concerned about accusations that they are attempting to influence American policies.

Posted December 1, 2006.