GOP lawmaker introduces bill to curb White House’s ‘land-grab appetite’

Fleming’s bill, titled The National Wildlife Refuge Review Act of 2011, would “advance [the congressman’s] commitment to reign[ing] in excessive federal spending and land-grab appetite,” according to a statement from his office.

“This legislation will effectively end the practice of the Administration designating national wildlife refuges, which creates significant taxpayer liabilities,” said Fleming, according to a story published on Monday in the Beauregard Daily News.

The law, according to Fleming’s website, would work by designating Congress as the sole entity with the power to create new federal wildlife refuges. Currently the Department of Interior is able to unilaterally designate refuges without the review or approval of Congress.

Fleming is the chairman of the House Natural Resources subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs.