MADISON - A state senator speaking at a public hearing Wednesday called crime victims "pesky" for seeking updates from prosecutors about their cases, drawing rebukes from victims in attendance.

Sen. Fred Risser made the comments in the state Capitol while pushing against a measure called Marsy's Law that would add crime victim rights to the state Constitution. Risser said the proposal would create a "bureaucratic problem that's going to cost a lot of money and delay a lot of things."

The longtime Madison Democrat raised concerns that victims might invoke their rights to inundate authorities with requests for information and pressed the measure's authors to explain how such situations would be handled.

"It seems to me that sometimes you have pesky victims that want to talk to the district attorney every day. What do you do about them?" Risser said. "This permits harassment, constitutionally."

A leading advocate for the measure, who said she survived abuse by an ex-husband, later took issue with the senator's comments and apologized during her testimony to other victims at the hearing. She didn't directly condemn Risser, however.

"Wanting to know the status of your case is never being pesky, and I do feel that at times in this room courtesy and sensitivity were lacking," said Teri Jendusa-Nicolai of Waterford, who spoke in favor of the legislation on behalf of a national group pushing for similar victim rights bills across the country.

Ariel Ludlum of Sheboygan, who identified herself as a survivor of workplace sexual abuse, also responded to Risser's comments during her testimony supporting the constitutional amendment.

"One thing I want to say, and I want to direct it to you especially," Ludlum said, looking at Risser. "I'm not a pesky victim. I'm a survivor from the things I've gone through, and me asking for something does not make me pesky."

Risser left the five-hour hearing about halfway through, after Ludlum's comments but before other crime victims referenced his use of the word "pesky" and provided at times emotional testimony in favor of the measure.

In a phone interview Thursday, Risser said he couldn't recall using the word "pesky" and didn't feel obligated to apologize for asking a legitimate question. He said harassment by victims is rare but happens.

"We want to be sure that government works," Risser said. "I might've used the word 'pesky,' I don't know."

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The Marsy's Law legislation gained wide support among Republicans and Democrats in 2017 with just 15 votes against it. Risser, 91, who was first elected in 1956 and is the nation's longest serving state legislator, cast one of the opposing votes.

Though approved in 2017, the measure must be approved again before it can go to voters as a constitutional amendment.

Supporters of Marsy's Law say it places victims and criminal defendants on an equal playing field while critics argue it tips the scales too far and risks violating defendants' rights. Some, including Risser, also worry about unintended consequences.

Similar legislation approved in North Dakota, for example, has been used to shield the names of officers involved in police shootings. Essentially, police say the officers were crime victims prior to firing their weapons so the law entitles them to victims' privacy rights.

Wisconsin's public defender office urged lawmakers this week to stall advancing Marsy's Law to see how pending court battles and other issues with the law resolve in other states. But lawmakers have shown reluctance to fulfill the request. Supporters hope to advance their measure by a Jan. 22 deadline so it can be put to voters in April.

The legislation is named after Marsy Nicholas of California, who was murdered in 1983 by an ex-boyfriend. Her brother, billionaire Henry Nicholas, has led a nationwide push to expand victim rights.

Supporters of Marsy's Law in Wisconsin have secured backing from bipartisan legislators and law enforcement groups. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin has registered as an opponent.

During the 2017-2018 legislative session, an organization backed by Nicholas to push Marsy's Law reported that it spent at least $864,710 on lobbying, ranking third highest in the state over the period.