Republicans At Odds On Bill Protecting Refs/Umps

At the Capitol Thursday, a bill making it a misdemeanor to harass referees and umpires in Wisconsin had a public hearing. Republican Representative Alex Dallman of Green Lake is an Assembly co-sponsor 

“We need to make sure that our youth see respect in our communities . . to members of authority, in those rooms and on those courts and fields.” 

But some members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, including Fond du Lac Republican Jeremy Theisfeldt (THEES-felt), questioned the need 

“I just don’t know if . . . harassment of a referee is superior and worthy of stronger punishment than harassment of just a plain old person. That’s my concern.” 

The WIAA claims harassment has made it difficult to recruit and keep high school referees and umpires.