TODAY'S TMJ4

Concussion legislation stuck in state Senate committee

By WTMJ News Team

CREATED Feb. 24, 2012 - UPDATED: Feb. 24, 2012

MILWAUKEE - Keeping kids safe is becoming a political game.

A new law to protect athletes after concussions is getting held up.

The future of this legislation to protect young athletes rests in one woman's hands at this point.

The bill is stuck in a state Senate committee. Only the chair can move it forward, and so far, she's refused to do so.

A similar bill passed the Assembly unanimously last fall.

Jennifer Florsheim knows just how serious concussions in kids can be. Her son Forrest suffered three -- his first at 8-years-old.

"He came home after hockey practice and he said he felt funny," Florsheim recalled.

Doctors checked out and cleared Forrest to return to the ice. Five weeks later, Forrest was forced to hang up his skates after he got a second concussion.

"His pediatrician at the time came and talked to us privately and said, 'You know he can't afford to get another concussion. You know, he could die,'" said Jennifer Florsheim.

It's stories like Forrest's that inspired a bill to protect young athletes in Wisconsin.

The measure would require a doctor to evaluate a child or teen suspected of suffering a concussion or head injury. And that doctor would have to sign off on that athlete's return to the sport.

But the bill's been stuck in a Senate committee for four months because of one woman -- state Senator Pam Galloway.

She needs to schedule a vote for it to move forward, and so far, she's refused.

TODAY'S TMJ4 talked to an aide at her office. He said he'd give her the message -- but TODAY'S TMJ4 never heard back.

TODAY'S TMJ4 tried her at home.

And by e-mail -- still nothing.

Former Packer Mark Tauscher held a news conference this week in favor of this bill.

If you think this is important legislation that needs to be passed -- you can email state Senator Galloway here

Or you can write her a letter at the following address:

Madison Office
Room 409 South
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707-7882

4 COMMENTS

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DzyDvl76 - Feb 25, 2012 10:41 AM

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As a parent of two young boys I understand the importance of protecting our kids from injures, especially concussions, but passing a bill like this will only push the government further into my personal life which I do not support.
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EdMarek - Feb 25, 2012 12:53 PM

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Here we have a child getting concussions in sports since he was 8 years old. After a second concussion, the doctor told the parents no more for the kid or risk death. The doctor did his duty. No legislation needed. Parents' duty to heed Dr advice.
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CleoOne - Feb 25, 2012 1:31 PM

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Who's going to enforce this law? Who makes the decision that the injury is serious enough to see a doctor? Why can't this be left to the parents, doctors, and coaches? Or is this article just an attempt to slam Pam Galloway?
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bluejay83 - Feb 25, 2012 4:10 PM

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Yes concussions are bad, no we don't need any more laws regulating our lives. This article is nothing more than a platform for republican bashing.
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