Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are locked in a bitter battle that is escalating by the day. On Wednesday, Disney filed a federal lawsuit against the Republican governor, accusing him of a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against the company.
The spat began last year when Disney opposed a bill limiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, which critics dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
In response, DeSantis began targeting the special tax district that Disney has been operating under since the 1960s. This week, the governor–appointed board of supervisors overseeing the district moved to undo a development deal that Disney had struck to try to maintain control of its Orlando–area parks.
The board also voted for a resolution to effectively ban Disney’s Orlando–area parks from imposing future Covid–related restrictions.
In its lawsuit, Disney alleged that the board’s actions were “patently retaliatory, patently anti–business, and patently unconstitutional.”
The governor’s office, however, argued that the fight is about Disney’s special tax and governance privileges, not political retaliation.
“We are 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,” said DeSantis’ communications director Taryn Fenske in a statement to CNBC.
The two sides have been embroiled in the dispute for months, and it is becoming increasingly clear that this will be a lengthy legal battle.
The lawsuit comes at a crucial time for DeSantis, who is expected to become a top Republican contender in the 2024 presidential race. Already, the governor has come under fire from former President Donald Trump, who is the favorite for the GOP nomination.
The escalating fight between Disney and DeSantis is likely to have ripple effects throughout the state and beyond. As the two sides gear up for a long legal battle, it remains to be seen how the outcome will impact Florida’s economy and DeSantis’ political ambitions.
