Gov. DeSantis Delivers Devastating Blow To Disney In Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced state lawmakers would consider a proposal this week to strip away Disney’s special district. Florida state Rep. Randy Fine (R) responded quickly by proposing the legislation to eliminate this corporate welfare for Disney.

“Disney is a guest in Florida. Today, we remind them. @GovDeSantis just expanded the Special Session so I could file HB3C which eliminates Reedy Creek Improvement District, a 50 yr-old special statute that makes Disney to exempt from laws faced by regular Floridians,” Florida state Rep. Fine said in a statement on Tuesday.

BREAKING: Disney is a guest in Florida. Today, we remind them. @GovDeSantis just expanded the Special Session so I could file HB3C which eliminates Reedy Creek Improvement District, a 50 yr-old special statute that makes Disney to exempt from laws faced by regular Floridians.

— Rep. Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) April 19, 2022

On Wednesday The Florida Senate passed the legislation to end Disney’s special tax and governing jurisdiction. They passed S. 4-C, which is the legislation that would dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District, otherwise known as the special tax and governing jurisdiction for the Walt Disney World Resort.

In 1967 the Florida legislature had authorized the special district to boost economic development and tourism; however, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Florida Republicans proposed the legislation to eliminate the special district after Disney has continued to oppose DeSantis’s Parental Rights in Education Bill and also pushed to incorporate “many, many, many LGBTQIA characters in its stories.”

The legislation passed with 23 votes in favor of the bill, and 16 against the bill.

Florida Senate voted 24-15 to pass congressional map favored by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Florida House next. pic.twitter.com/NUguv8OFnS

— Greg Giroux (@greggiroux) April 20, 2022

Following the FL Senate vote, NBC political director, who was unaware of the vote, and “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd broached the topic during “MTP Daily” on MSNBC, pointing to the escalating conflict between Florida Republicans and the massive entertainment corporation over legislation like the recently-passed Parental Rights in Education law.

“I know bashing corporations is popular, left and right, these days, but I’d be careful going up against Disney,” Todd said, prompting Sanders to jump into the conversation.

MSNBC’s Symone Sanders: “My money is on the Disney lobbyists, honey.” pic.twitter.com/udhemVTCDy

— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) April 20, 2022

“My money is on the Disney lobbyists,” she repeated, adding, “Do you think those state legislatures down in Florida are going to bend to the will of the governor? No!”

A little later in the discussion, Todd had to break it to Sanders that the Florida legislature had, in fact, already done exactly what she’d predicted they wouldn’t do.

On Thursday it was The Florida State Houses’ turn. They also passed the legislation to end Disney’s special tax and governing jurisdiction, sending it to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to sign.

The legislation overwhelmingly passed through the state House, with 70 votes in favor, 38 against, and 11 missing votes.

The Florida House of Representatives on Thursday gave final passage to another bill that would dissolve Walt Disney World’s private government, handing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis a victory in his feud with the entertainment giant.

Gov. DeSantis is expected to sign the bill on Friday.

In one big swoop, DeSantis and the state legislature were able to fight back against Disney’s opposition to the Parental Rights in Education Act and Disney’s LGBTQ campaign by removing loopholes and protections from the formerly Happiest Place on Earth.

I don’t think Mickey or Donald are celebrating tonight, they should have just run their theme park, staying away from the toxic world of “social justice.”

By: Eric Thompson, editor of EricThompsonShow.com. Follow me on Twitter and MagaBook