I was wondering if and when they would revisit this one again.
New York to revisit MMA legislation on June 18
by John Morgan on Jun 11, 2008 at 4:13 pm ET
Word has spread quickly throughout the MMA community that the state of New York's Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development has overwhelmingly voted down a bill that would govern the regulation of MMA in the state.
However, according to an official within committee chair (and bill sponsor) Steve Engelbright's office, the bill is still very much alive with the committee, and it will be revisited at a committee session next Wednesday.
While our good friend Sam Caplan at FiveOuncesOfPain.com first reported that the "bill was voted down in overwhelming fashion," as confirmed to Caplan by an anonymous member of a major state athletic commission and other sources, a representative within Engelbright's office have refuted that claim.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was told today that the bill was not defeated, but rather, laid aside in a committee meeting today. The bill will now reappear on the next agenda of the Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee, which is currently scheduled for Wednesday, June 18.
Further questioning on previous votes or motivations behind the decision was met with a simple, tight-lipped answer from Engelbright's office.
"The decision was made to leave it aside," said the representative. "We'll just leave it at that."
No official roll call was available from the committee at this time, nor was an official opinion or statement provided.
As Caplan reported earlier today, the committee revisiting the bill in less than a week has been described as "highly irregular."
Some sources have speculated that UFC President Dana White's anticipated announcement of "big news," originally scheduled for tomorrow (but possibly delayed), was linked to the organization's assumption that this bill would pass easily, and move the legalization of MMA in New York -- and a UFC event at famed Madison Square Garden -- one step closer.
For now, that possibility has been "laid aside" -- at least until next Wednesday.
by John Morgan on Jun 11, 2008 at 4:13 pm ET
Word has spread quickly throughout the MMA community that the state of New York's Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development has overwhelmingly voted down a bill that would govern the regulation of MMA in the state.
However, according to an official within committee chair (and bill sponsor) Steve Engelbright's office, the bill is still very much alive with the committee, and it will be revisited at a committee session next Wednesday.
While our good friend Sam Caplan at FiveOuncesOfPain.com first reported that the "bill was voted down in overwhelming fashion," as confirmed to Caplan by an anonymous member of a major state athletic commission and other sources, a representative within Engelbright's office have refuted that claim.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was told today that the bill was not defeated, but rather, laid aside in a committee meeting today. The bill will now reappear on the next agenda of the Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee, which is currently scheduled for Wednesday, June 18.
Further questioning on previous votes or motivations behind the decision was met with a simple, tight-lipped answer from Engelbright's office.
"The decision was made to leave it aside," said the representative. "We'll just leave it at that."
No official roll call was available from the committee at this time, nor was an official opinion or statement provided.
As Caplan reported earlier today, the committee revisiting the bill in less than a week has been described as "highly irregular."
Some sources have speculated that UFC President Dana White's anticipated announcement of "big news," originally scheduled for tomorrow (but possibly delayed), was linked to the organization's assumption that this bill would pass easily, and move the legalization of MMA in New York -- and a UFC event at famed Madison Square Garden -- one step closer.
For now, that possibility has been "laid aside" -- at least until next Wednesday.