WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Ed Towns (D-NY) announced today that H.R. 845 – also known as the “National Pastime Protection Act of 2009” – will not be placed on the Committee’s agenda, in essence killing the bill before it can be voted on.

The bill, introduced last week by Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), was aimed at preventing the acting Commissioner of the Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance from also owning a team.  PEBA Commissioner John Rodriguez, Sr. is currently the majority owner of the Aurora Borealis.  The Borealis currently hold the best record in the league; an amazing 119 wins against just 34 losses, good for a .778 winning percentage and 14 games ahead of the 2^nd-place Charleston Statesmen.

“In my view, the scope of this bill is too broad for consideration by this Committee,” said Rep. Towns, speaking in front of a gathering of reporters.  “We don’t have the time or resources to spare to be embarking on the kind of investigative work it calls for.  Furthermore, it’s clear from speaking to Committee members on both sides of the isle that the support for H.R. 845 just isn’t there.  If a compelling case for conflict of interest backed by tangible and substantive evidence can be made, of course we will take that case up.  What I see here is mostly hearsay and conjecture.”

Freshman Congressman and HCOGR member Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) also spoke against the bill.  “Quite frankly, we have too many real issues at hand to be dealing with this kind of political grandstanding masquerading as serious legislature.  Mr. Rodriguez has saved baseball for this country.  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him; he is a man of the highest character.  I find it offensive that his good name would be sullied by this baseless political attack.”

Opposition to hearing the bill was not unanimous, however.  “We made this mistake once before, sitting on our hands while MLB led itself down the path to ruin,” said ranking HCOGR minority member Darrell Issa (R-CA).  “Given the importance of this game to the fabric of our society, don’t we owe it to the people to insure that they can have confidence in the men and women who lead our national pastime?  I believe we do, and I call on the Chairman to place H.R. 845 on the Committee’s agenda.”

For her part, Bono Mack isn’t backing down from her support of the bill she introduced.  “If the person who owns your health insurance company runs his own medical practice, would we not investigate that?  If a pharmaceutical company owns the drug store where you purchase your medication, would we not investigate that?  Then why should we not investigate a situation where the man tasked with helming our country’s most iconic sport is also profiting from the success of a particular team in the league he oversees?”

Asked if she intended to carry on the fight, Bono Mack replied, “We’re currently weighing our options.  This isn’t over yet.”

Responding to the news out of Congress today, Aurora Vice President of Operations Christopher Rodriguez had this to say on Denver’s KOA 850 AM: “I think she got the smack down she deserved.  It’s totally obvious what this was all about.  I’m sure her BS plays great back in Palm Springs and Bakersfield, and I know it’s a reelection year next year and all, but right now she’s looking like an [expletive].  She tried to attack my dad with no basis in facts, nothing to back her at all, and she made a fool of herself.”

Later in the afternoon, John Rodriguez, Jr. also spoke on KOA 850 AM.  “It’s gratifying to see that the Committee, after due consideration, has correctly decided to forego bringing the bill to a vote.  My father is a good man and has never done anything to earn distrust.  It’s my hope that [Rep. Bono Mack] can sit down with my father in the near future and discuss her concerns face-to-face.  There’s not a doubt in my mind that such a dialogue would remove all doubts as to the sincerity of his singular pursuit: to bring an honest brand of baseball back to the people.”

In a brief press release issued late this afternoon, John Rodriguez, Sr. had this to say: “I’m grateful that we can put this whole mess behind us now.  Baseball is my passion, the PEBA is my baby, and the Aurora Borealis is my pride and joy.  As long as I am of sound mind and body, I intend to be leading the Borealis on to victory.”