We dub thee...."TurtleGate"

The newest diversionary tactic being used by the Hoekstra camp is making waves in West Michigan. A 4 foot fence is being erected along US-31 in Muskegon for the purpose of diverting turtles from the highway.

two state-protected turtle species -- the wood and Blanding's turtle -- are among those being victimized on the highway, along with one of special concern, the Eastern box. Snappers, painted and map turtles also are common victims.

During the spring migration, hundreds of turtles die while trying to cross the highway in search of nesting sites in the Muskegon River marsh. State officials said they believe this section of U.S. 31 is Michigan's deadliest stretch of road for turtles and statistics put it on par with some of the nation's worst turtle kill zones."Highway turtle mortalities in these lowland areas tend to be mostly female turtles migrating to nesting grounds leaving behind a mostly male population of turtles, which is very detrimental to maintaining a sustainable turtle population," said Gary Noble, MRWA chairman. "Turtle mortality surveys were conducted during 2005 and 2006 confirmed that this stretch of U.S. 31 accounts for some of the highest adult turtle mortalities recorded nationwide."

Ohhh Pete Hoekstra thought he just found his cover for his Not One, Not Two, But THREE NO VOTES ON SCHIP.

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, calls the $318,000 fences a poor use of money that could be better used on road construction in Muskegon County.

But in fact the money can't be used for road construction. The money is from federal enhancement funds dedicated for environmental and aesthetic improvements specifically.
Bill Shreck, MDOT's state director of communications says:

"We are required by federal law to spend these funds on enhancement projects and this is a project that improves safety while finding a solution to a problem that goes beyond transportation, MDOT partnered with the DNR and the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly to find the most cost-effective solution."

Mike O'Malley, MDOT Transportation Planning manager:

"This fence is a low-cost solution when you consider the potential safety, environmental and economic impacts that could arise if the situation were allowed to continue, MDOT is required by federal and state law to protect threatened and endangered species."

See also: Hoekstra flips the bird to the environment for the sake of posturing by LiberalLucy front page at MichiganLiberal.com
More to come soon...

Pete leaks classified information in NY Post Op-Ed

Here's the Op-Ed wherein he continues to spin why Americans should lay down and let their constitutional rights be trampled and attack anyone who disagrees with him, with some fear mongering, and just a dash of "radical jihadists" for flavor. In it Pete says:

The 2008 Intelligence Authorization bill cut human-intelligence programs but directed U.S. intelligence agencies to study global climate change.

Here's the kicker. The budget cuts are in the classified portion of the bill.

Dr. Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy,(wiki), says on Raw Story:

"It looks like Rep. Hoekstra is playing games with classification rules by making his claim publicly,I suggest that he go investigate himself.If you live by secrecy, you die by secrecy," he said. "Rep. Hoekstra has been an ardent defender of the secrecy barriers surrounding the intelligence budget and a harsh critic of leaks. Ironically, he now finds himself unable to coherently defend what he claims is a mistaken budget choice.""

Hmm...leaks for political gain...where have I seen that lately?
Pete your past and present prove...you're a varitable sieve for classified information.