Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential presidential candidate, is escalating his feud with Disney. the desire a special legislative session this week will end the theme park giant’s decades-old right to self-government.
Ron DeSantis. Photo:Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
DeSantis and Disney are at odds over Florida’s new “Don’t Say Gay” law that bans classroom discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity.
After initial hesitation, Disney, which prides itself on diversity and inclusivity, issued a harsh statement condemning the law and pledging to fight to have it repealed.
DeSantis sees an opportunity for revenge by eliminating the Reedy Creek Improvement District, created by Florida legislators in 1967 to give Disney the ability to collect taxes and conduct business autonomously.
To date, DeSantis has expressed loose support for a proposal by loyal Congressman Spencer Roach to end Reedy Creek. But at a press conference this morning at central Florida’s ultra-Republican retirement mecca The Villages, which ironically operates under its own special districts, the governor announced that he would expand the legislative session this week.
Supporters of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis demonstrate at Walt Disney World. Photo: Octavio Jones/Reuters
“Yes, they will consider the congressional map, but they will also consider ending all special districts that were enacted in Florida before 1968, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District,” he said.
The Don’t Say Gay bill is one of several culture war laws Florida has pushed forward in recent weeks, including a 15-week abortion ban and the DeSantis-backed Stop Woke Act, which bans discussion of Critical Race Theory (CRT). what critics say obliterates discussion of important historical events.
This week, Florida education officials rejected 54 math textbooks they said promoted CRT.
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