March 28, 2006

On Barbara Bush's Earmarked Donation

This is a brief follow-up to a post a few days ago on Barbara Bush's conditional donation of software to some Houston schools. It's garnered plenty of comments.

If the software is donated directly or the cash equivilent is donated to the relief fund Bush can claim both as deductions. In fact, according to my accountant, it would have been better tax-wise if she bought the software from Neil Bush's Ignite! Learning instead of donating cash. Bush's action is not self-maximizing. Plus, it wouldn't have been as noticable and not launched Bush bashers into a tizzy.