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Disney sues Florida governor Ron DeSantis for running targeted campaigns
https://www.whatjobs.com/news/usa/us-business-news/disney-sues-florida-governor-ron-desantis-for-running-targeted-campaigns
By Nithya Bose in US business news, posted April 28, 2023
The suit, filed in a Florida court, claims DeSantis’ action "jeopardizes its economic future in the region and violates its constitutional rights.”
The case follows a year-long dispute between DeSantis and Disney over an education bill restricting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms.
When Disney opposed the bill, DeSantis took control of the government entity, Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), which provides municipal services to the Walt Disney World Resort.
After gaining control of the RCID, DeSantis reconstituted it as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD).
The governor appointed five people to replace RCID’s elected members and hinted at plans to levy
taxes on Disney's hotels or even build a prison next to Walt Disney World.
But Disney strategically stripped the RCID's board of most of its power, a decision that the new chair of the modified board labeled "shameful."
Earlier this month, DeSantis revealed a new legislative drive aimed at Disney that would nullify its last-minute agreement to remove control from his state-appointed board.
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The CFTOD canceled Disney's development contracts on Wednesday, April 26, which the firm describes in the suit as "patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional."
Disney filed its lawsuit just minutes afterward.
The complaint said: "There is no room for disagreement about what happened here: Disney expressed its opinion on state legislation and was then punished by the state for doing so.”
A spokesperson for DeSantis said he is "unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state.
"This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law.”
Source: CBS News
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