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GEORGIA News: Georgia Senate looks to end WWE's exemption from regulation on Wednesday Feb 12, 2008 - 10:22:05 PM
Representatives from WWE, TNA, and other wrestling organizations will meet with the Georgia Senate on Wednesday to lobby against Senate bill 413 that would effectively end WWE's exemption from state-wide regulation.
The bill is currently with the Regulated Industries Committee. They have scheduled a meeting for 2:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the bill.
The bill would also subject pro wrestlers to "random drug testing, physical exams prior to matches and other forms of regulation," according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Both sides weighed in ahead of Wednesday's meeting.
"I'm very disappointed," said John Taylor, WWE's Atlanta attorney, "because they appeared to have ignored the very real distinction between professional wrestling, boxing, mixed martial arts and kickboxing. I'm afraid they're trying to run out a business that has been here since the 1950s."
Senator Eric Johnson, who introduced the bill to the Senate, rhetorically asked: "Who's going to walk away from one of the largest states in the country? They'll stay where the money is."
Also according to the paper, WWE accounted for nearly $2 million in tax revenue to the state in 2007 from shows in Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, and Columbus. Performances in Atlanta accounted for more than $1 million. The AJC is also reporting that Atlanta is "on the short list" for WrestleMania 26 in 2010.
Pro wrestling representatives were originally scheduled to meet with the Georgia Athletic Commission on Tuesday, but the meeting was canceled due to everyone turning their attention to the Senate Committee's discussion on Wednesday.
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