Washington ? Risking a possible clash with the Senate, President Bush insisted Monday he will not turn over documents detailing the private advice that Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers has given him while serving in the White House.

Bush was emphatic about not turning over papers relating to the “decision-making process, what her recommendations were.”

“That would breach very important confidentiality, and it’s a red line I’m not willing to cross,” he said in an apparent reference to bipartisan requests from the Senate Judiciary Committee. As White House counsel, Miers has advised Bush on a range of sensitive topics.

Bush’s remarks drew a cautious response from Sen. Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who chairs the Judiciary Committee. He told reporters the panel had requested “non-privileged documents” as part of its review.

But Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, a Democratic member of the committee, said it appeared the White House was refusing to turn over documents that were not shielded by attorney-client or executive privilege.

Bush answered questions from reporters as Miers met privately with Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., the latest in a round of senatorial courtesy calls.

In talking to reporters, Bush said that recently requests “have been made by Democrats and Republicans about paperwork out of this White House that would make it impossible for me and other presidents to be able to make sound decisions.”

“In other words, they’ve asked for paperwork about the decision-making process, what her recommendations were,” Bush said. “People can learn about Harriet Miers through hearings, but we are not going to destroy this business about people being able to walk into the Oval Office and say, ‘Mr. President, here’s my advice to you. Here’s what I think is important.'”

The committee has asked Miers for “any reports, memoranda or policy statements prepared or produced with your participation” while she was holding a public office.

It also has requested material on constitutional issues.

Republican Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, both of whom are members of the committee, have said they want to see material that would shed light on Miers’ judicial philosophy.

Brian Hart, a spokesman for Brownback, has said the senator wants the White House to release “any or all documents they can … as long as it does not affect attorney-client privilege.”