[neutrino]

Don't these provisions for unrepatriated earnings long predate the Bush administration?

Sure. They date from the early 1900's....

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Yes, they do predate Bush, by decades. Those provisions are long-standing. There is a bill currently being either bandied about or under construction which would permit US corporations a one-time tax amnesty repatriating those funds. During the last runup in thse stock market that possibility (amnesty) was touted as a potential +DJ 500-800 pointer.