The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would dissolve the private government of Walt Disney Worldgiving Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis a victory in his showdown with big business, which opposes a measure critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”
The decision would have huge tax consequences for Disney, whose theme parks have transformed Orlando into one of the world’s busiest tourist destinations, and aggravate the relationship between the Republican government and one of the main political players in the state.
For DeSantis, the attack on Disney is the latest battle in a culture war over issues like race, gender and the coronavirus that have made him one of the most popular Republican politicians in the country and a likely presidential candidate in the United States. 2024.
The dispute with Disney concerns the company’s criticism of a new law that bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender from kindergarten through third grade, as well as teaching that is not “age-appropriate or age-appropriate.” Degree of development”.
In March, Disney said it would suspend political donations in the state, adding that it would support organizations campaigning against the new law. DeSantis and his coreligionists turned their cannons on Disney and argued that the law is reasonable.
“Disney and other social activism companies will no longer get away with their unrestrained lobbying campaigns,” DeSantis said in a fundraising appeal Wednesday. “If we want to hold the Democratic apparatus and their corporate lapdogs accountable, we have to stand together.”
The bill approved Thursday would eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District, as the Disney government is officially called, and other similar districts by June 2023. The move leaves a door open for them to renegotiate their future. Now go to DeSantis’ office for your signature.
Democrats have criticized the bill as a retaliation against the company and warn that local homeowners could face huge tax bills if they have to absorb Disney’s bond debt, though those details are far from clear.
Disney is one of the largest private employers in Florida, with more than 60,000 workers in the state, it said. It was not clear how dissolving the district would affect the company or local governments.
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