Florida bill to make political bloggers register with state draws some unexpected pushback

A bill that would require political bloggers in Florida to disclose if they are paid for posts about the state’s leadership is drawing condemnation from politicos including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

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

He called for state Sen. Jason Brodeur — a fellow Republican— to withdraw his proposal immediately.

Under the bill, bloggers would pay $25 for each day they’re late reporting on the funding of stories that don’t appear on the “website of a newspaper or other similar publication.”

Brodeur tweeted that his proposal would bring “the current pay-to-play scheme to light and gives voters clarity as to who is influencing their elected officials.”

Republican Florida state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia called on Gingrich to withdraw his comment, claiming the bill would target bloggers who, like lobbyists, are trying to sway public opinion.

Others asked how a “blog” is defined in an era when news is consumed in so many different forms.

Former Federal Election Commission head Brad Smith weighed in, saying Brodeur’s bill would be shot down in court.

“Change ‘blogger’ to ‘reporter’ and see where you end up,” he said. “Blatantly unconstitutional — and a really bad idea to boot.”

Florida senate candidate Mike Harvey, a Democrat, expressed shock over agreeing with Gingrich.

“I’m so speechless, I don’t know what to say beyond that,” he tweeted.

Florida’s new legislative session begins Tuesday.

With News Wire Services