(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis indicated that he supported the state legislature’s decision to reevaluate Walt Disney Co.’s special self-governing status in response to Disney’s histrionic opposition to the Parental Rights in Education Law.
After DeSantis signed the law last Monday, Disney released a statement vowing that it would work to defeat the law in court.
During a press conference on Thursday, DeSantis said Disney was alienating a lot of Floridians over its disingenuous opposition to the law. As a result, DeSantis said, Disney has lost a lot of its political influence.
He noted that some people were asking him if he would go after Disney’s special perks in retaliation for their demagoguery over the law and said it isn’t about retaliation. Instead, he doesn’t support special privileges in the law “as a matter of principle.”
No home for special interests in Florida!
"I don’t support special privileges in law just because a company is powerful." @GovRonDeSantis pic.twitter.com/TluyFPm3Wu— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) March 31, 2022
During an appearance on Fox & Friends Friday morning, DeSantis blasted Disney for trying to impose “woke ideology” on Florida. He warned that if it is left “unabated,” this ideology would destroy the country.
In 1967, Florida created a semi-private, independent governing body controlled by Disney called the Reedy Creek Improvement District. It gave Disney the power to approve construction projects for its theme parks as well controlling and managing infrastructure to support its operations. The district has to power to levy its own taxes and use that revenue to build public services, and maintain roads and bridges.
If the Florida legislature repeals the law, Disney World and all of its properties would be regulated by Orange and Osceola counties in central Florida.
What drew Disney to Florida in the first place was the promise that the state would let the company function as its own government.
DeSantis told Fox & Friends that Disney has gotten “incredible treatment” from the state legislature. In short, he said, the company has been placed on a pedestal and treated differently from everybody else.
Noting that he never supported Disney’s special treatment, DeSantis said he welcomed the Florida legislature’s “movement to reevaluate those special privileges.”
“I think Disney has gotten over its skis on this,” DeSantis added.
