DeSantis Granted Unprecedented Control Over Disney World

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has gained the authority to choose the board members that oversee the growth of the state's renowned Walt Disney World theme parks.

DeSantis hopes to control what Disney can publically say and hopes to set the tone for other corporations that may choose to voice their opinions in the future.

One thing is clear, don't disagree with DeSantis or any of his policies in the public forum, or you may get the entire government coming after you with taxpayers' money.

Disney lost its autonomy in Florida because the company chose to exercise its First Amendment rights. If this can happen to the largest employer in Florida, what will regular everyday citizens face under this government?

The culture war on Your dime

Still, the company has managed to hang onto some of its important advantages despite the cultural war DeSantis has waged against it.

DeSantis announced a win over Disney, saying, "There's a new sheriff in town."

DeSantis took issue with Disney when the media giant opted to halt political contributions in Florida following the passage of the "Don't Say Gay" bill by the state's legislature, restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in schools.

The state legislature, controlled by the Governor's Republican allies, voted to strip Disney of its tax district designation, effective 1 June 2023. Though, the price of carrying out DeSantis' requests for Disney soon became apparent.

You're paying for it

If the district were to dissolve completely, taxpayers in Orange and Osceola counties would have to start paying for the firefighting, police, and road maintenance services that Disney had been paying.

The county's taxpayers would need to settle around $1 billion in debt owed to Disney.

Therefore, Florida's lawmakers changed their strategy this week. They created a bill that would give the state's governor the authority to choose the five members who would make up the tax district's controlling board.

The new measure would allow Disney, Florida's largest private employer, to maintain its special tax district status if the company bows down to DeSantis and never speaks ill of the Governor.

What do you think about DeSantis' attack on Disney?

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