Sens. Paul, Boxer spar over 'turtle tunnel' amendment

Conservative firebrand Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) clashed briefly on the Senate floor on Tuesday over an amendment that would have taken federal highway funds designated for beautification projects and dedicated them instead to repairing crumbling bridges.

“Three million dollars spent on a turtle tunnel,” said Paul, citing one often-derided example of how the funds were allocated. “You want to keep spending it on turtle tunnels?

“This amendment would secure funds for repairing our nation's bridges,” said Paul, speaking for his own amendment. “I have stood with the president in the shadows of our crumbling bridges; I told the president personally I would help rebuild those bridges [with] this amendment.”

Paul said his amendment, which was eventually voted down 38-60, was about prioritizing federal funds for necessities during a time of financial crisis.

But Boxer followed Paul to the floor and said if his amendment cleared, it would prevent funds from being spent on historic bridges, like the Brooklyn Bridge, or on bicycle paths that would reduce traffic casualties.

“The amendment prevents a bridge from being fixed if it is a historic bridge," said Boxer. "There are thousands of those in this country, including the Brooklyn Bridge."