'Woke' Disney faces fresh crackdown as Florida Governor takes action
Disney faces fresh crackdown as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis takes action
Reuters
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is renewing efforts to crackdown on Disney’s power in the Sunshine State after clashing with the corporation over "woke" issues.
The 44-year-old’s latest attempt to curb the entertainment conglomerate’s clout is expected to sail through Florida’s Republican-led legislature in the next fortnight.
However, DeSantis’ critics warn the two-term Governor’s proposals may need to overcome hurdles in the courts.
Disney mounted last-minute action to neuter the power of DeSantis’ handpicked board to oversee the area surrounding the company’s Orlando theme park complex.
Ron DeSantis has been tipped to challenge ex-President Donald Trump for the Republican Party nomination in 2024
Reuters
DeSantis was dealt a major blow after the outgoing board enabled Disney to oversee the district in perpetuity.
Florida’s State Capitol in Tallahassee will debate a bill to reverse Disney’s move.
The new board labelled the recent development as a “blatant effort to attempt to subvert the will of the people of Florida”.
A draft proposal, which does not mention Disney by name, revealed a special tax district would not be allowed to honour any agreement executed within three months.
Legal experts and Sunshine State Democrats warn nullifying the contract retrospectively is potentially illegal under both US and Florida constitutions.
Jacob Schumer, an attorney at Kohlmyer & Hand, said: “Disney has a contractual right and the state can’t just take away that right by legislative decision whenever it wants.
“There is no basis in which it can get around the constitutional protections for contracts.”
Democratic representative Anna Eskamani added: “We can’t just retroactively cancel a contract we don’t like.
DeSantis was dealt a major blow after the outgoing board enabled Disney to oversee the district in perpetuity
Reuters“This is another example of DeSantis being punitive toward one company that has made him mad.”
Disney and DeSantis have been embroiled in a lengthy spat in recent years, with the entertainment company’s chief executive Bob Iger labelling the Governor’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ controversy as “anti-business and anti-Florida”.
However, DeSantis’s latest push against Disney comes as ex-American President Donald Trump appears to be pulling away from his Republican challengers ahead of 2024.
Leading Republican donors and big wigs from the Grand Old Party’s Florida delegation appear to be switching from DeSantis to Trump.
Donald Trump has started to pull away from his ally-turned-rival in the opinion polls
PA
Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Greg Steube and Lance Gooden all voiced support for Trump third’s successive election campaign over backing DeSantis.
Florida’s Republican Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio could prove key to restoring some momentum behind any potential DeSantis campaign.
A recent Harris Poll survey revealed Trump now leads DeSantis by 35 per cent in a crowded field and by 22 per cent in a head-to-head contest.
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