
Florida’s Governor is not happy with the happiest place on earth.
After saying Disney “crossed the line” for opposing a new law preventing the sexualization of young school-aged children, Governor Ron DeSantis now wants to strip Walt Disney Co. of its “special self-governing status.”
DeSantis is literally at war with Florid’s largest employer over the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, which prohibits teachers from discussing LGBTQ topics like sexual orientation or gender identity with very young students in kindergarten to third grade.
DeSantis signed the bill last week, prompting Disney to release a statement vowing to help defeat it in court.
“Disney has alienated a lot of people now,” DeSantis told reporters in West Palm Beach on Thursday.
“And so the political influence they’re used to wielding, I think has dissipated. And so the question is, why would you want to have special privileges in the law at all?”
The governor added: “And I don’t think that we should.”
During an appearance on Fox News’ morning show Fox & Friends on Friday, DeSantis accused Disney of trying to “impose a woke ideology” on his state.
He said that Disney should be stopped because if left “unabated” it would “destroy” the country.
In 1967, Florida created the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which allowed Disney to approve construction projects for its theme parks as well as build and manage the necessary infrastructure to support its operations.
The district was also empowered to levy its own taxes and then use the revenue to build public services and maintain roadways and bridges.
If the GOP-led state government repeals the 1967 law allowing self regulation, Disney World and all of its properties would be regulated by Orange and Osceola counties in central Florida.
Disney was initially drawn to Florida in the mid-1960s due to the promise that the company could function as its own government.
“If Disney wants to embrace woke ideology, it seems fitting that they should be regulated by Orange County.”
Any movement on the 1967 law would have to wait for the next legislative session, unless DeSantis calls lawmakers back for a special session to address the issue.