Presidential Library Test For Clinton, McCain & Obama

I, and then major periodicals, (here and here) have written that donors to foundations of former presidents should be publicly revealed. I, also, believe that large donors to all non-profits should be publicly revealed, as non-profits are so influential on so many public policy issues and in elections.

There’s been a bill passed overwhelmingly (390-34) by the House in 2007, indeed whose primary sponsor was liberal Democrat Howard Berman, that all donors of over $200 to presidential libraries should be publicly revealed, quarterly, in a government internet database.

It was favorably reported out of the Senator Lieberman’s Senate Homeland Security Committee, amended to $1250 for donations after a president leaves office, and placed on the Senate’s agenda for action. That Senate action has never occurred. (Go to www.Thomas.loc.gov, enter "presidential library, and click for Senate Reported of HR 1254), and follow links for more info)

It may be tied up by Republicans, leery of its impact on the plans for President Bush’s library. I don’t know. Bill Clinton says he’s only willing to disclose future, not past, contributions. Or, there may be other reasons or excuses for inaction.

In any event, and regardless, will Senator Hillary Clinton see that it quickly reaches a vote of the Senate? Will Senator McCain? Will Senator Obama? That would be nice bipartisanship if all, together, did.

The Senate Report on the bill says:

Fund-raising for Presidential libraries can begin well before a President leaves office. Under current law, there are no limits on the amount of money Presidents and their associates may raise for a Presidential library, no constraints on when fund-raising may begin, and no limits on the size of donations. Foreign governments, foreign individuals, and foreign corporations are not prohibited from making donations to Presidential libraries. Unlike the disclosure of contributions to federal campaigns under the Federal Election Campaign Act (2 U.S.C. Sec. 431 et seq.) or the disclosure of the amounts of interested parties spend to lobby Congress and the federal government under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), there is no requirement that Presidential libraries disclose donations. Under the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-81), registered lobbyists will be required, beginning in 2008, to disclose on a semiannual basis contributions equal to or exceeding $200 made to Presidential library foundations. Building on this first step toward disclosure, H.R. 1254 will create a comprehensive reporting system.

Witnesses at a March 1, 2007 hearing conducted by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform supported the need for disclosure of presidential library donations. They argued that undisclosed contributions create a perception of impropriety and noted the benefits of disclosure to public confidence in the political process. Sheila Krumholz, the Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Politics testified:
Herein lies the central concern: that those who donate money to presidential libraries will in return receive special access to, and favors from, the president and the federal government. To minimize the potential for that sort of payback, and to build trust among a citizenry that already questions the ethics of elected officials, public disclosure of contributions to presidential library projects seems both appropriate and wise.

There’s also concern whether presidential libraries are places to learn about history or just “promotional venues.” This article in the Dallas News does a good job of tracing the matter from Truman to today. For example:

University of Arkansas historian Randall Woods said his department wasn't consulted on Bill Clinton's presidential library in Little Rock, which covers Monica Lewinsky and other White House scandals in a single display titled "Fight for Power."

In contrast, scholars were brought onboard at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Mo., to ensure balance in its exhibits, such as his decision to drop nuclear bombs on Japan in World War II.

Even LBJ wanted an even-handed portrait, Mr. Middleton said, recalling that the president told him: "I don't want another damn credibility gap. ... I got a lot of mean letters and we ought to put the meanest letter I ever got in this exhibit."