WEEKLY ROUNDUP
DeSantis vs. the Mouse moves to courthouse
TALLAHASSEE — The festering feud between Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney shifted to the courts this week, in a move the governor slammed as “political” and “without merit.”
Mostly silent on the issue for the past year, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit arguing its First Amendment rights were violated and business harmed by a “relentless campaign” of retribution orchestrated by DeSantis and other officials.
The 77-page lawsuit alleged the governor and his allies targeted the entertainment giant over its opposition to a controversial 2022 law. The legislation — named “Parental Rights in Education” by supporters and given the moniker “don’t say gay” by critics — restricts instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
The legal challenge came after a series of changes that included replacing the Reedy Creek Improvement District board. Disney for decades had effectively controlled the district, which gave it power over issues such as land use, fire protection and sewer services that are typically handled by local governments.
Lawmakers in February approved a measure that renamed the Reedy Creek district as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and gave DeSantis power to appoint the district’s board. The Legislature and the new board have acted to nullify development agreements involving Disney that were approved by the former Reedy Creek board.
Disney contended in the lawsuit that it has made repeated efforts to de-escalate the dispute, and that the company had no choice but to fight back in court amid what it characterized as a bid by DeSantis to “weaponize government power.”
“Disney finds itself in this regrettable position because it expressed a viewpoint the governor and his allies did not like,” the lawsuit said. “Disney wishes that things could have been resolved a different way. But Disney also knows that it is fortunate to have the resources to take a stand against the state’s retaliation — a stand smaller businesses and individuals might not be able to take when the state comes after them for expressing their own views.”
The governor addressed the issue during a press conference in Israel on Thursday.
“I think it’s political,” DeSantis said. “I think they filed (the lawsuit) in Tallahassee for a reason, because they’re trying to generate some district-court decision. But we’re very confident on the law.”
The governor also said the special district allowed Disney to be treated differently than Universal, SeaWorld and other theme parks, and now “they’re upset because they’re actually having to live by the same rules as everybody else.”
“They don’t want to have to pay the same taxes as everybody else,” he added. “And they want to be able to control things without proper oversight, whereas every other Floridian has to have this type of oversight, all Florida businesses. So, it’s a little bit much to be complaining about that.”
ALL ABOARD!
Republican lawmakers are remaining firmly in DeSantis’ corner as the fight with Disney roils.
Members of the GOP-controlled Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on Tuesday made changes to a transportation bill (SB 1250) that would require Disney’s iconic monorail system to face periodic state inspections.
The change, in part, would apply Department of Transportation safety standards to monorail lines that connect Walt Disney World resorts and parks. The plan would require audits and compliance reports to be conducted every three years and an annual onsite evaluation.
Disney and other large theme parks conduct their own safety inspections because of a carve-out from oversight by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
In debate over the bill Tuesday, Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, said the state actions against Disney have amounted to retribution.
“Every time I come here, there is a new amendment that is added that retaliates against Disney,” Stewart said. “I think, finally, they have figured that out. They have no other option. They are out of options. They can’t be nice.”
But Senate Transportation Chairman Nick DiCeglie, an Indian Rocks Beach Republican who is sponsoring the bill, said state oversight should include the system handling a large number of tourists each day.
COMING IN FOR A LANDING
As conference committees continued piecing together parts of the 2023-2024 budget, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said the game plan is to get the entire spending package done by Friday or Saturday.
That likely would start the clock on a required 72-hour “cooling off” period early next week, with a final vote in time to end the legislative session as scheduled May 5.
“One thing people don’t realize is that then (after the package is done) our staff has to read it all. Make sure there are no typos,” Passidomo, R-Naples, told reporters Wednesday. “It’s going to take 24 hours, maybe 30 hours. So, my goal, my hope would be that we get the final document typed, or whatever, printed on the desk by Monday night, Tuesday morning. That gets us to vote Friday (May 5).”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Mostly silent on the issue for the past year, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit arguing its First Amendment rights were violated and business harmed by a “relentless campaign” of retribution orchestrated by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind.” — Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, in a lawsuit challenging actions by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials.