Michigan GOP lawmaker floats bill to register, fine 'fact checkers'

[Eugene]

Source: The Detroit News

Michigan GOP lawmaker floats bill to register, fine 'fact checkers'

Beth LeBlanc
Craig Mauger
The Detroit News
Published 5:43 p.m. ET May 11, 2021 | Updated 5:44 p.m. ET May 11, 2021

Lansing — A Michigan lawmaker who's been at the center of efforts to question the 2020 election introduced a bill Tuesday that would require "fact checkers" to register with the state.

Rep. Matt Maddock, R-Milford, wrote the legislation, which was co-sponsored by eight other Republican House members, about five months after Maddock floated the idea of licensing fact checkers on Twitter.

The "Fact Checker Registration Act" defines a fact checker as someone who publishes in print or online in Michigan, is paid by a fact-checking organization and is a member of the International Fact Check Network.

The network is a reference to the Poynter Institute's International Fact-Checking Network, a unit launched by the journalism group in 2015 to train and develop best practices in fact checking, Maddock said.

The bill requires qualifying fact checkers to file proof of a $1 million fidelity bond with the Secretary of State's office, which will be tasked with developing the "form and manner of registration and filing."

-snip-

Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/05/11/michigan-gop-lawmaker-floats-bill-register-and-fine-fact-checkers/5043399001/

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Once upon a time, the right used to love bashing UNESCO over the potential licensing of journalists.

[TDale313]

1. They really hate anyone challenging their delusions with facts.

It’s disturbing and dangerous… and a bit sad.

[rsdsharp]

2. It's also a violation of the First Amendment.

[lagomorph777]

4. Yeah, this should instantly fail any court test.

[Midnight Writer]

3. So, any fool can carry a gun, but you have to be licensed and bonded to check a "fact"?

[Caliman73]

5. Ridiculous!

"Many believe this enormous economic and social power is being abused," Maddock wrote. "

Who? Who are the many? Where are those "many" saying this? This is standard right wing garbage, claiming some anonymous "many".

Fact Checkers are "body checking" Conservatives he said. Yes but that is only true because Conservatives tend to lie a whole lot more than Liberals do. Liberals operate from the idea of empiricism. That doesn't mean that we can't lie or don't lie or that our statements are not biased. It means that we try to have our facts and reasoning in order when we make statements. Conservatives, on the other hand, are lead by the ideology first and try to force the facts to fit their narrative. That approach will lead to a lot more lies.

If we register "fact checkers" should we register politicians too? I think politicians lying are much more dangerous and have a much bigger effect on society than if a fact checker makes a mistake. I support registering politicians and fining them significantly or imposing other sanctions when they lie.

[lindysalsagal]

6. Let me guess: no female, lgbtq,black, asian, hispanic or atheist "fact-checkers" will be allowed in.

"White christian sis straight males in this line, everyone else, get your muzzle in that line...."

[11 Bravo]

7. The dumb bastards who think that kicking someone off of a private forum ...

(such as Facebook or Twitter) is a First Amendment violation, are generally the most likely to advocate for this kind of patently unconstitutional horseshit.

Stupidity, thy name is Republican.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. "also called for the burning of all Dominion voting machines" - this is one dumb MF fascist (nt)