I read the bill, too, Sunnydaze. Our friend, SadieJay, emailed me last night with this story.
As I read it, it seems to equate getting paid as a blogger to write and have published articles related to the Florida Executive and Legislative branches with being a paid lobbyist. The requirements around reporting -- dates, names, compensation…
I read the bill, too, Sunnydaze. Our friend, SadieJay, emailed me last night with this story.
As I read it, it seems to equate getting paid as a blogger to write and have published articles related to the Florida Executive and Legislative branches with being a paid lobbyist. The requirements around reporting -- dates, names, compensation, web addresses, etc. on an electronic government database -- sure sounds like registering as a lobbyist to me. Except you're not.
I agree with Jeff that this bill is unlikely to go anywhere. It is still outrageous, though. I'm calling Brodeur's office today to ask for "clarification." Very unlikely one of our intrepid public servants will pick up the phone, but who knows? Maybe today will be my lucky day -- or theirs. :)
That is great. SadieJay and I communicated about it this morning 😉
However, as I read the bill the definition of “blogger” needs to be defined then. Because the way I read it it includes everyone who “blogs” and posts articles from other people. They are throwing a lasso out and hoping to catch every single person that posts a political criticism of an elected official. Isn’t that what the 1st amendment is supposed to protect? This is nothing more than more grab for control. Everything in my spirit is wrenching over at this. I do hope it goes no where, but the fact he wrote it and filed it tells us a lot about Republican Rinos and Florida. Freedom is fragile (especially in Florida because it has a huge target on it) and we cannot turn away for one single second or they (all of them) will snatch it away.
I hear you! This bill needs a lot more defining of its terms, including "blogger."
Zack did say its intent is to target paid content that advocates on behalf of an organization via a piece directed to or about a political figure in the Executive or Legislature. Yet, again, I hear you re where this could go...
I think I will follow up via email to ask if Senator Brodeur experienced an instance of being attacked (or praised) by an organization via written content. If the organization solicited the content, paid someone to do it, and then paid that person anonymously, that could be seen as a form of lobbying without the current laws about lobbying applying to that person. This bill would change that.
Right now, it leaves alone you and me ripping new ones on the Governor or anyone else via Comments sections or our own newsletters. The slippery slope is that that could change...
I called, and as expected, had to leave two VMs -- one in his district office and the other in Tallahassee. Uh, Senator Brodeur, this is Me calling from northwest Florida. I am calling to get clarification and confirmation on your bill, SB 1316.
As I read it -- the 116 additional lines of code -- it seemed to equate blogging about FL Executive and elected Legislative members and getting paid for it with lobbying. Is that a correct interpretation?
Also, I would love to understand more about the legislation, in particular what prompted it. I'd be very grateful to hear back from you or someone from your office with help on my questions. As I am sure you know, your bill is getting a lot of attention on social media...and blogs...of course.
Thanks a bunch. Hugs and kisses.
OK, I didn't actually include that last part.
I remained polite throughout, repeated my name and phone number, and said good-bye.
Also lol to the hugs and kisses 😆 Although with some of these people, if you had actually said that, you might have gotten a personal meeting with them 🙄
Please do! I just got a call back from "Zack" in Senator Brodeur's office. Good conversation. He confirmed my interpretation of this as similar to having lobbyists register. Senator Brodeur's thinking is that the public has a right to know if an organization or website solicited and compensated a writer/blogger to advocate on its behalf. I agreed saying that given the last three years of all of us being subjected to "vested interests," I can see the Senator's point in saying that the public has a right to know who's writing for whom and how much $$$ they were paid to do so.
I shared that this has caused grave concern and asked if the Senator has considered the "moral hazard" or downside of this legislation. Zack said he had and that the bill will get much more review. We got into more detail and it was a good conversation. Zack said they're being "inundated" with calls and emails. Said I believed it.
Then for good measure, threw in that I'd be in Tallahassee on Tuesday to advocate on behalf of SB 222, the Protect Medical Freedom bill. Does the Senator support that? Zack said he was unsure if the Senator had had a chance to read the bill (1,500 already submitted), but that he does support the right of people to make their own medical choices. Great, I said...There are millions of us who are going to be keeping on eye on that one...
I did! Although not as eloquently as you, I’m sure 😂
I said,
I’m a resident of central Florida. (Gave contact info)
I would like further clarification on senate bill 1316 which you must know by now is getting a lot of pushback from citizens and bloggers. First, this appears to be a clear 1st amendment violation and at a time when governments all over the country and big tech have stripped Americans of their right to free speech, this bill is suspect to say the least.
At a time when the federal and state governments are coming after citizens financially and calling them “fines” for non-compliance I would think you would have thought long and carefully about what message this bill would send to your constituents.
Please have someone contact me and further clarify why you would seemingly go after bloggers in the private sector in this manner. And by definition, blogger doesn’t seem to be limited to specific lobbyists but rather ordinary citizens reporting news worthy information, sharing political information about what our governments are actually doing and voicing criticism of elected officials on behalf of the citizenry in Florida, since our media tyrants and censors refuse to do so.
Right now, the bill excludes ordinary citizens reporting newsworthy info. It is restricted to an organization's solicited and paid for content that advocates for the interests of that organization directed to the Executive or Legislative branch.
You're right, though -- it could "go there" -- forcing ordinary people to "register." (My husband is as steamed as you are.)
I think the verbiage isn’t clear to some of us non-lawyer people so I would appreciate a lot more conversation about that piece, but I also am done giving any politician the benefit of the doubt because they are sneaky and love to implement policy and laws behind our backs in the dead of night behind closed doors. So, unfortunately I come out swinging against anything that doesn’t smell right. Kind of cut off the soldiers ear and ask for forgiveness later (biblical reference 😂).
I’m not willing to give these politicians on either side of the aisle an inch. They should be met with fierce questioning from the public for every single thing they do. They should be fearful of the citizens being critical of every move they make. That helps breed accountability. They should approach every bill with “what are my constituents going to say?” Rather than what they probably say now which is “who cares what they say”.
I’m really glad you found out they are getting hammered with calls from the citizenry. That is excellent!!!
This is good. And I actually fully agree with the intent because how many times have we been saying (for the past 5 years!) “follow the money”. The truth is it DOES matter. And food for thought - it really isn’t FREE speech if you are being paid for it. Sorry. Its a job. FREE is me posting right here with my comments and no incentives.
I did hear back from his office and I shared what his legislative aide said in another comment. (My senator is Doug Broxson.) It was a good conversation.
Briefly, the Senator believes that the public has a right to know who is getting paid to advocate on behalf of organizations via their blog posts. I wanted to ask, but didn't get to it, about an instance of Senator Brodeur being on the receiving end of this type of "lobbying".
The legislative aide said that the bill was drafted quickly to make the deadline for this legislative session. It has much review and redrafting to go through and then passage in both houses before it ever makes its way to the Governor's desk. For his signature...or not.
I read the bill, too, Sunnydaze. Our friend, SadieJay, emailed me last night with this story.
As I read it, it seems to equate getting paid as a blogger to write and have published articles related to the Florida Executive and Legislative branches with being a paid lobbyist. The requirements around reporting -- dates, names, compensation, web addresses, etc. on an electronic government database -- sure sounds like registering as a lobbyist to me. Except you're not.
I agree with Jeff that this bill is unlikely to go anywhere. It is still outrageous, though. I'm calling Brodeur's office today to ask for "clarification." Very unlikely one of our intrepid public servants will pick up the phone, but who knows? Maybe today will be my lucky day -- or theirs. :)
That is great. SadieJay and I communicated about it this morning 😉
However, as I read the bill the definition of “blogger” needs to be defined then. Because the way I read it it includes everyone who “blogs” and posts articles from other people. They are throwing a lasso out and hoping to catch every single person that posts a political criticism of an elected official. Isn’t that what the 1st amendment is supposed to protect? This is nothing more than more grab for control. Everything in my spirit is wrenching over at this. I do hope it goes no where, but the fact he wrote it and filed it tells us a lot about Republican Rinos and Florida. Freedom is fragile (especially in Florida because it has a huge target on it) and we cannot turn away for one single second or they (all of them) will snatch it away.
I hear you! This bill needs a lot more defining of its terms, including "blogger."
Zack did say its intent is to target paid content that advocates on behalf of an organization via a piece directed to or about a political figure in the Executive or Legislature. Yet, again, I hear you re where this could go...
I think I will follow up via email to ask if Senator Brodeur experienced an instance of being attacked (or praised) by an organization via written content. If the organization solicited the content, paid someone to do it, and then paid that person anonymously, that could be seen as a form of lobbying without the current laws about lobbying applying to that person. This bill would change that.
Right now, it leaves alone you and me ripping new ones on the Governor or anyone else via Comments sections or our own newsletters. The slippery slope is that that could change...
Good points.
I would love for you to "make their day". I sure have had enough. Weasely weasels everywhere.
Here is what I see about it...https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/vindicated-friday-march-3-2023-c/comment/13272051
Spot on!
I would love to be able to listen in on THAT conversation! 😬
I called, and as expected, had to leave two VMs -- one in his district office and the other in Tallahassee. Uh, Senator Brodeur, this is Me calling from northwest Florida. I am calling to get clarification and confirmation on your bill, SB 1316.
As I read it -- the 116 additional lines of code -- it seemed to equate blogging about FL Executive and elected Legislative members and getting paid for it with lobbying. Is that a correct interpretation?
Also, I would love to understand more about the legislation, in particular what prompted it. I'd be very grateful to hear back from you or someone from your office with help on my questions. As I am sure you know, your bill is getting a lot of attention on social media...and blogs...of course.
Thanks a bunch. Hugs and kisses.
OK, I didn't actually include that last part.
I remained polite throughout, repeated my name and phone number, and said good-bye.
Please keep us posted!
Also lol to the hugs and kisses 😆 Although with some of these people, if you had actually said that, you might have gotten a personal meeting with them 🙄
😂😂😂 𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩?
Which end??
😂
I’m planning to call too!
Please do! I just got a call back from "Zack" in Senator Brodeur's office. Good conversation. He confirmed my interpretation of this as similar to having lobbyists register. Senator Brodeur's thinking is that the public has a right to know if an organization or website solicited and compensated a writer/blogger to advocate on its behalf. I agreed saying that given the last three years of all of us being subjected to "vested interests," I can see the Senator's point in saying that the public has a right to know who's writing for whom and how much $$$ they were paid to do so.
I shared that this has caused grave concern and asked if the Senator has considered the "moral hazard" or downside of this legislation. Zack said he had and that the bill will get much more review. We got into more detail and it was a good conversation. Zack said they're being "inundated" with calls and emails. Said I believed it.
Then for good measure, threw in that I'd be in Tallahassee on Tuesday to advocate on behalf of SB 222, the Protect Medical Freedom bill. Does the Senator support that? Zack said he was unsure if the Senator had had a chance to read the bill (1,500 already submitted), but that he does support the right of people to make their own medical choices. Great, I said...There are millions of us who are going to be keeping on eye on that one...
Do call, Sunnydaze...
I did! Although not as eloquently as you, I’m sure 😂
I said,
I’m a resident of central Florida. (Gave contact info)
I would like further clarification on senate bill 1316 which you must know by now is getting a lot of pushback from citizens and bloggers. First, this appears to be a clear 1st amendment violation and at a time when governments all over the country and big tech have stripped Americans of their right to free speech, this bill is suspect to say the least.
At a time when the federal and state governments are coming after citizens financially and calling them “fines” for non-compliance I would think you would have thought long and carefully about what message this bill would send to your constituents.
Please have someone contact me and further clarify why you would seemingly go after bloggers in the private sector in this manner. And by definition, blogger doesn’t seem to be limited to specific lobbyists but rather ordinary citizens reporting news worthy information, sharing political information about what our governments are actually doing and voicing criticism of elected officials on behalf of the citizenry in Florida, since our media tyrants and censors refuse to do so.
Thank you for your time.
Hugs and kisses. 😉
Well done!
Right now, the bill excludes ordinary citizens reporting newsworthy info. It is restricted to an organization's solicited and paid for content that advocates for the interests of that organization directed to the Executive or Legislative branch.
You're right, though -- it could "go there" -- forcing ordinary people to "register." (My husband is as steamed as you are.)
Did you add the "hugs and kisses?"
Hahaha. I kept that for you and C&C 😂
I think the verbiage isn’t clear to some of us non-lawyer people so I would appreciate a lot more conversation about that piece, but I also am done giving any politician the benefit of the doubt because they are sneaky and love to implement policy and laws behind our backs in the dead of night behind closed doors. So, unfortunately I come out swinging against anything that doesn’t smell right. Kind of cut off the soldiers ear and ask for forgiveness later (biblical reference 😂).
I’m not willing to give these politicians on either side of the aisle an inch. They should be met with fierce questioning from the public for every single thing they do. They should be fearful of the citizens being critical of every move they make. That helps breed accountability. They should approach every bill with “what are my constituents going to say?” Rather than what they probably say now which is “who cares what they say”.
I’m really glad you found out they are getting hammered with calls from the citizenry. That is excellent!!!
This is good. And I actually fully agree with the intent because how many times have we been saying (for the past 5 years!) “follow the money”. The truth is it DOES matter. And food for thought - it really isn’t FREE speech if you are being paid for it. Sorry. Its a job. FREE is me posting right here with my comments and no incentives.
That sounds like an interesting and productive conversation!
Please let us know what happens!
Let us know if you every hear ANTHING (either written or spoken) from your "esteemed" Senator Brodeur.
I did hear back from his office and I shared what his legislative aide said in another comment. (My senator is Doug Broxson.) It was a good conversation.
Did they explain in detail what this bill would contain and why it was drafted in the first place?
Briefly, the Senator believes that the public has a right to know who is getting paid to advocate on behalf of organizations via their blog posts. I wanted to ask, but didn't get to it, about an instance of Senator Brodeur being on the receiving end of this type of "lobbying".
The legislative aide said that the bill was drafted quickly to make the deadline for this legislative session. It has much review and redrafting to go through and then passage in both houses before it ever makes its way to the Governor's desk. For his signature...or not.
Wonderful! Bills like this are "fluff"...but makes it appear our legislators are actually "working"--HAH!