Rep. Rob Bishop: Pat Venditte & the Filibuster
I love baseball and I loathe the Senate’s filibuster rule.
OGDEN, UT – The Ogden Standard-Examiner has published a guest opinion piece by Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01). In the piece, Bishop uses a change in the rules of Major League Baseball to highlight the need for changes to the Senate filibuster rule. Bishop says a change to this rule is needed to avoid future government shutdowns. Read the full piece below:
Pat Venditte & the Filibuster
By, U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop
I love baseball and I loathe the Senate’s filibuster rule. Please humor an old history teacher and let me tell you what one has to do with the other.
Pat Venditte is an ambidextrous major league pitcher. From a young age, his father worked with him to develop the ability to throw with both hands. He was signed by the New York Yankees as a switch pitcher.
In a Class A game against the Brooklyn Cyclones, he made his professional debut in 2008. In the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs, he faced Ralph Henriquez. Henriquez was a switch hitter. He could bat from either side of the plate. It was showdown between a switch pitcher and a switch hitter.
Henriquez approached the plate ready to hit right handed. Venditte switched from southpaw to preparing to pitch with his right hand. At this point, Henriquez adjusted his position and prepared to hit left handed. Then Venditte switched back. Henriquez switched. Venditte switched.
Pitcher and batter had arrived at an impasse. Progress stopped. The game shut down. Both sides were stagnant.
Eventually, the umpires stepped in to end the stalemate. Not long after that game, Major League Baseball adopted a new rule known as the “Pat Venditte Rule.” The rule requires that the pitcher indicate the hand with which he intends to pitch, then commit to that hand for the duration of the batter’s plate appearance.
A rule was changed to prevent an impasse on the baseball field and herein lies the nexus with the Senate’s filibuster rule.
In the case of the dueling switch pitcher and switch hitter, it required a rule change to keep gameplay from shutting down. In the case of the U.S. Senate, it requires a rule change to prevent the government from shutting down.
Blame for this most recent 35-day shutdown can be almost exclusively borne by the extra-constitutional tradition in the Senate of allowing for the threat of a filibuster to bring all progress to a halt. It requires 60 votes to overcome this threat, and with the Senate divided as it is, that’s an unlikely number to reach on almost any measure.
The most recent shutdown was totally unnecessary. Shortly before Christmas last year, a majority of both the House and Senate supported fully funding the government and providing for border security. Stated another way, it was the majority will of the United States Congress to avoid a shutdown and secure our border.
Instead, a minority of senators was able to play politics, and with a weaponized filibuster threat, triggered what would become 35 days of a partially unfunded government.
As the recent shutdown continued, there was plenty of blame to be shared by both Democrats and Republicans. Each should have been willing to compromise much earlier in the process, but the catalyst for the shutdown was singular. The shutdown started because of a rule born of foolish tradition, not the Constitution.
It was the filibuster rule that shut down the government. The filibuster led us to an impasse; it halted progress, and it stopped the game as both sides were stagnant.
This has happened before, and it will happen again unless there is a rule change in the Senate.
As Major League Baseball changed the rules to avoid a shutdown on the diamond, so too must the United States Senate change the rules to avoid a future shutdown in our country.
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To Kick Off
Living Proof North
American Tour
With Support from
Our Last Night,
The Dangerous Summer and Grayscale
Tickets On Sale Now at
Multiple Cities Sold Out
February 12, 2019 - Albany, NY - State Champs are bringing the Living Proof Tour to North America next month. Kicking off on March 1st in Chicago, IL, the New York Pop-Punkers will be delivering their well-known larger than life stage energy combined with some of their biggest stage productions yet to cities across the United States. Delivering high-voltage versions of tracks from their latest release like fan-favorites "Dead and Gone", "Our Time To Go" and "Criminal", the 5-piece band will be supported by Our Last Night, The Dangerous Summer and Grayscale. Multiple cities have already sold out, with all remaining tickets on sale now at http://www.statechampsny.com/.
The upcoming tour is in celebration of the band's third studio album, Living Proof. Released last Summer via Pure Noise Records, the 13-track collection is the most ambitious and cohesive work in the band's catalog. While securing the #9 Top Current Albums, #28 Top 200 and #3 Rock Billboard charting positions, this album has seen impressive praise from fans and press alike.
A full list of upcoming North American tour dates can be found below:
March 1 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues **
March 2 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
March 3 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre**
March 5 - Indianapolis, IN - Deluxe
March 6 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
March 8 - New York, NY - Playstation Theater**
March 9 - Boston, MA - House of Blues**
March 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts**
March 12 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage **
March 13 - Charlotte, NC - The Underground
March 14 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
March 15 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
March 16 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom
March 18 - Denver, CO - Summit
March 19 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
March 21 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
March 22 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
March 23 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
March 24 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
March 26 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
March 28 - Austin, TX - Scoot In
March 29 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
** - SOLD OUT
While creating Living Proof, State Champs went back to their roots, writing and recording in garages while also collaborating with Mike Green and Kyle Black as they did for Around The World And Back. They didn't shy away from new experiences either, working with legendary producer John Feldmann (Blink-182, Good Charlotte) for the first time while additional contributions came in the form of writing sessions with Alex Gaskarth (All Time Low) and Mark Hoppus (Blink-182). On an album full of go-for-broke moments, State Champs pushed themselves to new heights without ever forgetting where they came from.
Living Proof is a record about coming out the other side those experiences, both triumphant and humbled. That growth is palpable, as State Champs made a record that's like nothing they've done before, but is still an album that only they could ever make. Fans can stream and purchase Living Proof at http://www.statechampsny.com/.
State Champs is Derek DiScanio (Vocals), Tyler Szalkowski (Guitar), Ryan Scott Graham (Bass), Evan Ambrosio (Drums) and Tony "Rival" Diaz (Guitar).
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Download Living Proof Cover Art Here
Download State Champs' Press Photo Here (Credit Beth Saravo)
Download State Champs Bio Here
Download Tour Admat Here
Follow State Champs:
https://www.facebook.com/statechampsny/
https://www.instagram.com/statechampsny/
https://twitter.com/State_Champs
https://www.youtube.com/c/statechampsny
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qqdO7xMptucPDMopsOdkr
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KOLARS
Premiere New Single "Turn It Up"
Exclusively With FLOOD Magazine: http://bit.ly/2E5tzM3
Set to Release 7" Limited Edition Vinyl
via Mike McCready of Pearl Jam's Hockey Talkter Records
"When I first saw KOLARS live, I was incredibly impressed! Their live dynamic is nothing like I've
seen. The modified drum kit, the tap dancing, the amazing songwriting. They have it all!"
-Mike McCready of Pearl Jam
"A Superb Punch Of Musical Bliss."
-Time Out
"KOLARS are as if T-Rex and The Pixies had a love child who was born tap dancing on a drum kit with a no-shits-given punk aesthetic."
-Underground UK
Los Angeles, CA - February 12, 2019 - KOLARS have shared their new single, "Turn It Up", premiering exclusively with FLOOD Magazine. Fans can listen here: http://bit.ly/2E5tzM3
"Turn It Up" will be available everywhere digitally on February 19th. KOLARS have collaborated with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam to release a limited edition vinyl of "Turn It Up" (side A) / "Touch The Lightening" (side B) on his label, Hockey Talkter Records. The vinyl will be out in early April via Hockey Talkter and through Jack White's Third Man Records.
"As a kid, I listened to a lot of punk music and it inspired me to start singing and writing songs. It is a culture that embraces imperfection and values authentic expression which is empowering to someone just starting out. I was really draw to songs like 'Soundsystem' by Operation Ivy and 'Radio' by Rancid. Both are anthems celebrating music as a medicine to raise your spirit." Rob Kolar of KOLARS said. "I've always wanted to write a song appreciating what music has done for my life - this song is our version of that. 'Turn It Up' is our tribute to how music can be vital in getting us through tough times."
Later this month, KOLARS will kick off their spring tour, including stops at Flying Burrito Festival, SXSW, and Treefort Festival. For a full list of tour dates, please see below.
KOLARS have been touring internationally since the release of their self-titled album in 2017 and have received accolades for their effervescent blend of upbeat disco rock with twangy rockabilly. Huffington Post says they "instantly fell in love with their tantalizing sonics, and their energetic, apocalyptic marvel" while Paste Magazine concluded that "KOLARS play their unique blend with every inch of their body."
They have shared bills with Spoon, The Voidz, STRFKR, The Kills, Best Coast, Shakey Graves, Father John Misty, LP, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Revivalists, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Starcrawler, Shonen Knife, RZA, Pussy Riot, Built To Spill, The Growlers, The Roots, Nikki Lane, and many others.
KOLARS is one of those rare acts which descends from another dimension, struts its sequin skin, blares its unabashed musical thrill ride and leaves audiences with their mouths on the floor.
The husband and wife duo craft a full sound through minimal instrumentation: a guitarist and a tap-dancing drummer. Rob Kolar twists and turns as he sings imaginative lyrics with a raw swagger. He spins his guitar as notes sail and scramble through the room, with a presence that embodies elements of Elvis and Marc Bolan with a ragged punky edge. The magnetic, one of a kind, Lauren Brown uses her whole body as a percussion instrument, tap dancing rhythms with her feet while playing a full stand up kit with her arms. An alluring hybrid of Mo Tucker and Gene Kelly with a dash of Iggy Pop wildness. Studio experimentations are fused into the live show, adding colorful nuances to their performance.
KOLARS produces the music, and has created a genre melding soundscape. The band has inspired evocative descriptions such as "space blues", "glam-a-billy" and "desert disco", with a style that combines elements of new wave, blues, psychedelia, glam, folk, disco and punk.
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Follow KOLARS:
Website: http://kolarsband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kolarsmusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kolarcoocoo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kolarsmusic/
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Feb 21 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Feb 22 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
Feb 23 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones
Mar 1 - Costa Mesa, CA @ Wayfarer
Mar 9 - Phoenix, AZ @ Flying Burrito Festival
Mar 10 - 18 - Austin, TX @ SXSW Festival
Mar 21 - Denver, CO @ Larimer
Mar 22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Mar 23 - Boise, ID @ Treefort Festival
Mar 28 - Eugene, OR @ Wildcraft
Mar 29 - Seattle, WA @ Sunset
Mar 30 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
Mar 31 - Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett
Apr 9 - Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
Apr 10 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Apr 11 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
Apr 12 - Columbus, OH @ Big Room
Apr 13 - Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR
Apr 15 - Toronto, Canada @ Monarch
Apr 16 - Montreal, Canada @ Casa Del Popolo
Apr 17 - Boston, MA @ Middle East
Apr 18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
Apr 20 - Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
Apr 21 - Washington DC @ DC9
Apr 22 - Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
Apr 24 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement
Apr 26 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Apr 27 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
Apr 28 - Austin, TX @ Stubbs
