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Yet another catfish explanation

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on June 21, 2007 - 3:32pm.
Tags: catfish amendment | etymology | Under the Dome

Scott Mooneyham offers yet another explanation for "catfish amendment."

In an e-mail to Dome, The Insider reporter writes that catfish tend to head to the bottom when they're hooked:

Anyone who fishes for them knows that they grab a bait, and hug the bottom and roll, as opposed to other fish that often run to the surface and jump. Only speculation, but I suspect plenty of rural legislators from the 60s and 70s had caught plenty of catfish on rod and reel and understood this tendency. Hence, to "catfish a bill" is to grab it and load it up with something that sends it to the bottom.

N&O outdoors editor Mike Zlotnicki confirmed this description, saying catfish tend to "bulldog down" and hold to the bottom of a river when caught.

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Re: Yet another catfish explanation

Submitted by rossreport on June 21, 2007 - 8:37pm.

Z's a bit of a bulldog himself.

This came up last year during the budget debate.
Found this from the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Catfish — A bill that loses the meat, or any power, in the amendment process. Also known as being gutted or Grooverized, in honor of former longtime lawmaker Denmark Groover, an attorney who was an expert at filleting bills. Often used in the sentence, "Hold still little catfish, all I want to do is gut ya," with the bill playing the role of the catfish.

(Hard to resist quoting anything with a name like Denmark Groover in it.)

My favorite spot for catfishing: Jordan Lake Dam spillway
Favorite movie about catfish: Okie Noodlin -- a must see documentary with soundtrack by the Flaming Lips no less.

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