Newt Gingrich slams Florida Republicans for blogger registration bill: ‘Insane’

FSpeaker for the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA). Blasted a Florida Bill that requires paid bloggers to cover Gov. Ron DeSantis (R.FL), legislators, and other high-ranking officials must register with the state.

The following are the guidelines “Information Dissemination” State Sen. Jason Brodeur (a Republican) proposed that bloggers who cover certain Florida officials be required to reveal their source of income. Gingrich denounced legislation As “insane” Brodeur was urged to withdraw his bill.

WHO ARE THE WITNESSES IN THE FULTON COUNTY GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION?

“The idea that bloggers criticizing a politician should register with the government is insane. 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,” Gingrich tweeted.

Brodeur’s law sparked a lot of debate, especially from Democrats and advocates for free speech.

“Paid bloggers are lobbyists who write instead of talk. They both are professional electioneers. If lobbyists have to register and report, why shouldn’t paid bloggers,” He told Florida Politics.

Bloggers that are paid to publish online information about state elected officials, would need to register with either the Florida Office of Legislative Services (or the Commission on Ethics as per Brodeur’s proposal). This requirement does not apply to websites for newspapers. according To the bill.

Failing to sign up could lead to fines up $25 per day and a maximum of $2,000