WASHINGTON — Growing worries over the rebuilding of Iraq erupted across Capitol Hill on Tuesday as congressional Democrats questioned whether the Pentagon had adequate control over private contractors.
Democrats introduced two measures to improve oversight of contractors: one to tighten control over the spending of billions of taxpayer dollars in Iraq and a second to better hold contractors accountable for their actions.
At the same time, Democrats sharply questioned top officials from the State and Defense departments about control of the tens of thousands of contractors who are working in Iraq.
Officials with the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority defended their oversight of the rebuilding process, which has been stalled by bureaucratic delays and Iraq's deteriorating security situation
So far, work has begun on just 73 of more than 2,300 proposed projects, leaving thousands of schools, electricity towers and sewage systems unbuilt with about six weeks before the coalition transfers control to an interim Iraqi government.
"There is oversight," said Steven Susens, a spokesman for the CPA's Program Management Office. "We have lots of eyes and lots of people checking on the contracts."
The criticizing began when four Democrats demanded that the Pentagon cancel seven new contracts to manage the reconstruction effort, saying the companies had conflicts of interest that invited abuse.
"The Defense Department is contracting out the oversight of the henhouse to the foxes," said one of the four, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). "That's completely unacceptable."
Legislation from the group -- which also includes Rep. Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles, Rep. John D. Dingell of Michigan and Sen. Byron L. Dorgan of North Dakota -- asks the Pentagon to take control of oversight responsibility.
They said two of the companies -- Parsons Corp. of Pasadena and CH2M Hill of Englewood, Colo. -- had won management contracts to oversee the work of firms with which they have partnered in ventures outside Iraq.
"There isn't any way on Earth with these kinds of conflicts of interest that you can have adequate oversight of taxpayer funds," Dorgan said. "They're going to ask Larry and Curly to take a look and see what Moe's doing. I'm sorry, that doesn't work."
Parsons and CH2M Hill strongly denied any conflict.
