More Thoughts on MMA for NY
May 10, 2009
Assemblyman Bob Reilly will interject himself into the ESPN piece that should is coming up shortly. It is a bit odd that he is venturing beyond his opposition to MMA, going further and choosing to interject his feelings on particular promoters of MMA. Not sure how that jibes with his supposed opposition to the sport as a whole, and not the individual promoters. Then again this would tie in with the money trail from Unite Here to Reilly.
The article indicates that there should be a vote before the tourism committee within the next couple of weeks, while Mike Chiappetta over at MMA Fanhouse indicates that a vote is only likely through the end of the session in late June. As the members of the Tourism committee will take up the issue soon, it is instructive to take a look at CampaignMoney.com and the money links between Unite Here and those on the Tourism committee that will decide the fate of MMA:
Brodsky: $500 in 2003, $1000 in 2004, $3400 in 2006
Del Monte $1500 in 2004, $10,000 in 2006
Fields $1000 in 2004
Gunther, $1000 in 2003, $500 in 2008
Gianaris $3500 in 2003
Hoyt $500 in 2004, $1500 in 2006, $1000 in 2008
McEneny $500 in 2004, $3000 in 2006
Reilly $1500 in 2004, $4000 in 2006
O’Donnell $1000 in 2006
Do I think there is a strict quid pro quo going on for opposition to MMA? No, Unite Here lobbies on a number of topics in the State of New York, MMA being one among them. Their donations look to sway legislators on any number of subjects. Through their donations in the past, Unite Here has built relationships with these legislators, relationships that may be revisited with the vote for the MMA bill to come out of committee and into the larger Assembly. It should be interesting to see how the legislators listed above vote on the subject once they are asked to go on the record as yeah or nay on MMA for New York.
