Florida blogger registration bill ‘insane,’ Gingrich tweets

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Republican lawmaker in Florida wants bloggers who write about elected officials to register with the state, a proposal that’s raised First Amendment concerns and the ire of GOP firebrand Newt Gingrich. The legislation would not apply to content on “the website of a newspaper or other similar publication.” The proposal quickly came into the crosshairs of Gingrich, a prominent Republican and former U.S. House Speaker, who called it “insane.” “The idea that bloggers criticizing a politician should register with the government is insane,” Gingrich wrote on Twitter Sunday. “The only thing that I can see is that it’s an attempt to limit and control free speech,” said Bobby Block, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation. It’s an electioneering issue, not a free speech issue.” Brodeur is also sponsoring a separate bill that would make it easier to sue media for defamation, a proposal pushed by Gov.