New York's MMA Legislation Getting Choked Out

Today, in New York, it became obvious that the chances of the state legislature passing the MMA bill, allowing the sanctioning of events in New York, were quickly fading.

Although MMA is sanctioned in 44 out of 48 states with an official state athletic commission (Alaska and Hawaii are the states without), the states holding out are doing a fantastic job of stalling. 

It appears in New York that there is personal bias involved in not allowing this MMA bill to come to a vote.  Herman Farrell is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, where the bill has stalled, and recently was quoted as saying: 

"I don't think very much of the sport. Next we'll give them clubs with spikes on the end; that will be good."

I'm not sure how this will ever pass as long as Mr. Farrell is in charge of this committee.  Whenever someone tries to legislate morality (or stop legislation based on it), it's tough to quickly bypass it.  Unless this guy has some grandchildren that can teach him the sport is actually not as barbaric as he believes, this is bound to be a long fight.  It's too bad. Madison Square Garden would be an excellent venue for the UFC.