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Posted on 03/06/2023 1:18:33 PM PST by conservative98
A Florida bill that would require bloggers who write about the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, to register with the state proved a step too far even for the godfather of far-right Republicanism, the former US House speaker Newt Gingrich.
“The idea that bloggers criticising a politician should register with the government is insane,” Gingrich wrote on Twitter.
“It is an embarrassment that it is a Republican state legislator in Florida who introduced a bill to that effect. He should withdraw it immediately.”
The bill was introduced by Jason Brodeur. It states: “If a blogger posts to a blog about an elected state officer and receives, or will receive, compensation for that post, the blogger must register” with the appropriate state office.
The bill defines “elected state officer” as “the governor, the lieutenant governor, a cabinet officer, or any member of the legislature”. As penalty for failure to comply, it posits fines of up to $2,500.
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Nonetheless, DeSantis’s press secretary told NBC the governor would “consider the merits of the bill in final form if and when it passes the legislature”.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
DeSantis is also reportedly seeking “First Night” for him,
from any newlywed woman in Florida - HIS state.
I think that is correct.
It’s not going anywhere. Should never have been proposed in the first place.
It is not insane if you consider they are now actually in kind donations providing free advertising for the party message.
Pretty much all media these days is state run providing free in kind support which is actually against the law.
All the bill proposes is effectively openness and disclosure of one’s biases.
it is a brain fart from one RINO state senator ... probably designed to hurt DeSantis ... it will never pass ... Newt should know better ...
The Overton Window is quickly sliding towards authoritarianism.
I agree with Mr Newt. Free speech, no matter how heinous, should not be a crime.
In a nutshell: It is to get rid of the illegal money spent for a candidate they do not disclose. Maybe a bad idea, but certainly calls attention to the problem.
Yep but that doesn’t fit some people’s agenda
Desantis didn’t come up with this, some other idiot did. All he did was what was required of him as governor, wait until it passes the legislature (which he knows will never happen), then either sign it or veto it.
He said exactly what someone in his position should, nothing until he has to. Just because some idiot who has an axe to grind or wants his name in the lights for 2 seconds throws out a stupid idea then how is this a reflection on him at all? His party yes, but he probably never even heard about it until it was in the media.
If the bill is as described, it should be strongly rejected, but that's a big if.
Newt is correct.
This violates 1st amendment of free speech.
We already are too close to the edge of arresting Americans for expressing opinions.
Lets not help the left.
desantis didn’t write this...
educate yourself...
your willful ignorance is on full display...
Of course it is. A bill not proposed or supported by DeSantis by a lone legislator that is going nowhere and a national story is made of it like it is something significant just to push a narrative.
Part and parcel for this poster, infamous for behavior during the Pennsylvania Senate primary spreading falsehoods about Kathy Barnette that she supported BLM, CRT, etc. and refused to retract even with it being exposed as false.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1316/?Tab=BillText
The really interesting bit starts on page 5.
They’re from the government and they’re here to help.
Now if it actually starts to gain traction and DeSantis were to endorse it, then there is a serious issue to consider.
What seems to be addressed here are paid political columns or blogs that are more or less disguised ads for or against a candidate. In reality, people with any brains (which obviously excludes Democrats) are able to figure out where a blogger stands.
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