Not quite a losing battle

Ben Fowlkes of Sports Illustrated and Cagepotato has posted an excellent article, as well as several interviews, describing the ongoing legislative battle over MMA legislation in New York.

While Fowlkes does a fantastic job of putting a face on the two sides of the ongoing legislative fight, it doesn't change the fact that Reilly is currently winning the battle. 

The bill itself hasn't even been presented to the Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development Committee, and already the bill's sponsor has altered it to make it more palatable. The addition of a three year 'sun-set clause' as well as an increase in the tax rate of live-gate revenues from three to ten percent. The UFC currently does not hold events in states that have similar tax structures. Though for Madison Square Garden and New York they will most likely make an exception. 

This also doesn't take into account that there isn't a lot of legislators falling over themselves to support the bill. Couple that with the New York Times editorial board siding with Reilly and it is easy to see how the issue has ground to a halt. Currently it appears that the legislation will be presented to the Committee around Easter but that is no guarantee of success. And if there is strong possibility of the measure being voted down then Assemblyman Englebrigh may not even present it this year.

Personally I think that Assemblyman Reilly can't win in the long run (hence the 'losing battle' headline in the SI piece), but he sure as hell can delay the process and for Reilly that might be enough.

With the New York Assembly only in session for six months out of the year, and with their dramatic budgetary issues, e.g., 15 billion dollar deficit, it is quite conceivable to see the issue pushed back to 2010. Even then it will still need to pass the Committee, Assembly and be signed into law. 

For right now, the misinformation and ignorance that Reilly is spreading may be driving the MMA community and proponents mad, but it doesn't change the fact that there is a steep hill to climb.