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Catch and release (congress)

Catch and release is a practice of the United States Congress. Catch and release enables Congressmen, usually nominal moderates, to escape accountability for supporting legislation backed by their party but unpopular in their districts.

In catch and release, a legislator will be whipped into agreeing to vote for a bill that is unpopular in his district, then released to vote as he pleases if the bill will pass without his vote. The Congressman can tell his constituents that he broke with his party leadership on that issue, while he secretly would have supported the leadership if it had been necessary.


Last updated: 05-03-2005 17:50:55