Bush hedges on whether to disclose names of his library donors
President Bush is hedging on whether or not he’ll disclose the list of donors to his presidential library even as a bill that has already passed the House of Representatives might ultimately force him to do so.
Bush was asked by reporters during a news conference on Thursday if he planned on releasing the names of donors to the planned library, which will be housed at Southern Methodist University and is expected to cost about $250 million.
In noting that he will give the idea "serious consideration," the president remarked that some people "like to give and don’t particularly want their names disclosed." He also noted that he will likely accept donations from foreigners.
Bush signed a bill in September that mandates the disclosure of the names of lobbyists who donate $200 or more to a presidential library. The bill currently before the Senate would apply to all donors.