What is the "turtle fence" speech?

Congressman Paul Hoekstra of Michigan famously questioned the necessity of a federally funded "turtle fence" in Muskegon, Mich. The fence was designed to prevent endangered turtles from crossing a busy road. Hoekstra was roundly mocked for this speech.

Hoekstra, in speaking out against the 2009 federal stimulus package, was asked whether he would advise his own state's governor to turn down stimulus money. He said no, but brought up the turtle fence as an example of how stimulus money was too tightly earmarked. He believed the money could be better spent fixing potholes and otherwise improving the roads. The four-foot chain-link fence was built at a cost to taxpayers of $318,000.