The George W. Bush Library & Secrecy
I’ve complained about the obscene plan to raise half a billion dollars for a George Bush presidential library before. See "A Five Hundred Million Dollar George W. Bush Library" But, now Congress appears to be doing something about it. Rep. Harry A. Waxman (D CA) and others have introduced HR 1254 the "Presidential Donation Reform Act of 2007" which would require disclosure of donors to presidential libraries. It is a bipartisan measure which should improve its chances of passing as previous bills in the past have died. As it is now, there is no requirement to make public who donates how much to a presidential library which in turns offers the temptation of political favor pay backs.
The projected cost of $500 million would set a record for the cost of presidential libraries. President Clinton’s library cost $165 Million. The news reports say that "mega donors" are being sought for $10 and $20 Million dollar donations. It’s reported that wealthy Arab nations and big business have been contacted for donations already. The public has the right to know who is giving and how much to this monument to an administration of gross incompetence.