Rep. Doug Ose (R-California, 3rd), last week unveiled his "Presidential Gifts Accountability Act" (H.R. 1623), aimed at reforming the process by which presidents since George Washington have accepted gifts associated with their office.
"I believe that the American people have the right to know what gifts are received and retained by Presidents," said Ose, who is the Chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs. "At the suggestion of many of my colleagues, the Subcommittee spent a year gathering evidence that shows that the current system is broken and needs to be fixed. Americans should be assured that donors do not receive an unfair advantage in the policymaking process.
"This bill will provide greater public disclosure, oversight, and accountability. I look forward to working with the Administration and my colleagues to pass this good government legislation."
The Committee’s report (House Report 107-768), issued last year after a year-long investigation and two Government Reform Subcommittee hearings, documented findings of gifts retained by Clinton First Family over an 8-year period. The report raised many questions regarding how gifts were valued, catalogued, and reported. The investigation also found that the Clintons solicited and coordinated gifts, and there were questionable White House Counsel rulings about gifts. The Subcommittee’s findings were referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The bill would require the National Archivist to disclose the following information about any person giving presidential gifts during the year having a cumulative value of $100 or more:
