For fifth straight year, New York Senate approves MMA bill
Yet again, the fate of MMA in New York rests with the state’s assembly.
New York’s state Senate today passed a bill to legalize the sport, setting up another showdown in the House, where legislation has died the four previous sessions.
The vote was 44-16 in favor of legalization, with several senators arguing to end a ban enacted in 1997 near the height of MMA’s dark days.
Said Senate Democrat Timothy Kennedy, via longtime New York-based MMA journalist Jim Genia: “Every other state is doing it – it’s high time New York acts.”
For the past four years, assembly Democrats have been decidedly less enthusiastic about MMA. A revolving door of opponents has decried the sport’s image and claimed it encourages violence against women. The assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, repeatedly has blocked bills from receiving a vote on the floor, where Republican supporters say the bill has enough support to pass.
The UFC has spent big money lobbying politicians to change the laws in New York, but the promotion has been unable to sway opinion at voting time. Despite sponsoring studies to demonstrate the potential windfall from a UFC event to regulators and the local economy, a deadlock persists. Yet the industry-leader remains committed to the fight.
“We once again thank the State Senate – Democrats and Republicans – for giving overwhelming approval to legislation to legalize and regulate MMA in New York State, the last place in North America where professional MMA remains illegal,” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta stated.
“The attention turns yet again to the assembly. Hopefully the assembly will finally recognize that enacting this law is the right thing for the millions of fans, the right thing for ensuring the safety of amateur and professional MMA athletes, the right thing for tourism and economic development, the right thing for the arenas and the union jobs they provide.
“I have no choice but to be cautiously optimistic. Mr. [Silver], make 2014 the year this gets done.”
Earlier this year, several UFC stars met with New York lawmakers to talk up legalization. As to convincing the one that counts the most, the promotion has a lot of work to do.
“The speaker does not personally approve of MMA,” Silver’s rep told the NY Daily News this past fall. “But ultimately it is up to the members and there simply has not been enough support in the Democrat conference to bring it to a vote.”
Yet again, the fate of MMA in New York rests with the state’s assembly.
New York’s state Senate today passed a bill to legalize the sport, setting up another showdown in the House, where legislation has died the four previous sessions.
The vote was 44-16 in favor of legalization, with several senators arguing to end a ban enacted in 1997 near the height of MMA’s dark days.
Said Senate Democrat Timothy Kennedy, via longtime New York-based MMA journalist Jim Genia: “Every other state is doing it – it’s high time New York acts.”
For the past four years, assembly Democrats have been decidedly less enthusiastic about MMA. A revolving door of opponents has decried the sport’s image and claimed it encourages violence against women. The assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, repeatedly has blocked bills from receiving a vote on the floor, where Republican supporters say the bill has enough support to pass.
The UFC has spent big money lobbying politicians to change the laws in New York, but the promotion has been unable to sway opinion at voting time. Despite sponsoring studies to demonstrate the potential windfall from a UFC event to regulators and the local economy, a deadlock persists. Yet the industry-leader remains committed to the fight.
“We once again thank the State Senate – Democrats and Republicans – for giving overwhelming approval to legislation to legalize and regulate MMA in New York State, the last place in North America where professional MMA remains illegal,” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta stated.
“The attention turns yet again to the assembly. Hopefully the assembly will finally recognize that enacting this law is the right thing for the millions of fans, the right thing for ensuring the safety of amateur and professional MMA athletes, the right thing for tourism and economic development, the right thing for the arenas and the union jobs they provide.
“I have no choice but to be cautiously optimistic. Mr. [Silver], make 2014 the year this gets done.”
Earlier this year, several UFC stars met with New York lawmakers to talk up legalization. As to convincing the one that counts the most, the promotion has a lot of work to do.
“The speaker does not personally approve of MMA,” Silver’s rep told the NY Daily News this past fall. “But ultimately it is up to the members and there simply has not been enough support in the Democrat conference to bring it to a vote.”
Statistics: Posted by tre loucks — May 13. 2014, 19:28 — Replies 4 — Views 25
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