‘Operation Blue Roof’ has congressional democrats seeing red

Democrats in Congress have called for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ inspector general to investigate “Operation Blue Roof,” a program through which contracts are awarded to provide temporary roofs for structures damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The two democrats leading the charge, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., voiced their concerns with the program’s spending and oversight in a Nov. 1 joint letter.

“With a project of such great importance and potential expense, strong management and oversight is essential,” they said. “Yet this doesn’t seem to be the case.”

The congressmen said news reports suggesting the government is paying between $2,980 and $3,500 to nail blue plastic tarps over damaged roofs — such jobs normally cost $300 — pushed them to action.

In addition to the alleged exorbitant payments, the congressmen said reports contractors are not paying for materials, increasing their profit margin, need to be examined.