I'll give up my blog when they pull my cold dead fingers away from it...

A new bill in Florida filed by Sen. Jason Brodeur of Lake Mary, S.B. 1316, would regulate bloggers who write posts about the state’s governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members or legislative officials. The bill, if passed, would require bloggers who write about Gov. Ron DeSantis, his Cabinet or state legislators to register with the state.

Bloggers would have to disclose who paid them and how much, along with other information such as where the post is located online. They would be fined $25 per each day the report is late, up to a maximum of $2,500 for each report. 

The legislation would not apply to content on “the website of a newspaper or other similar publication.” Brodeur is also sponsoring a separate bill that would make it easier to sue media for defamation, a proposal pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The bill defines a blog as "a website or webpage that hosts any blogger and is frequently updated with opinion, commentary, or business content," but it says the "term does not include the website of a newspaper or other similar publication."

So let me get this straight. If I, way over here in California, write a blog about Ron DeSantis, which I have been known to do, and don't file a report or register with Florida, I can be fined up to $2500 bucks?

This is ludicrous, totalitarian and a clear violation of the first amendment. Of course the governor has never shown any respect for any of the rights of American citizens as far as I can tell, so it doesn't exactly surprise me. See you in court.

Bring it on, Brodeur!

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SPLC attorney arrested in Atlanta, charged with domestic terrorism.