“Under the proposed legislation, Disney will no longer control its own government, will live under the same laws as everyone else, will be responsible for their outstanding debts, and will pay their fair share of taxes.”
On Friday, legislation backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was introduced that would see Disney World's self-governing power replaced with a state-run board and would also ensure the company pays $700 million in unsecured debt instead of taxpayers footing the bill.
According to Fox News, DeSantis' communications director Taryn Fenske said, "The corporate kingdom has come to an end. Under the proposed legislation, Disney will no longer control its own government, will live under the same laws as everyone else, will be responsible for their outstanding debts, and will pay their fair share of taxes."
Loading this lets Rumble set cookies and collect data.
View on Rumble"Imposing a state-controlled board will also ensure that Orange County cannot use this issue as a pretext to raise taxes on Orange County residents," Fenske added.
Since 1967, Disney has been responsible for governing an area within Orange and Osceola counties known as Reedy Creek through the The Reedy Creek Improvement Act, an arrangement that gives the company special legal and tax privileges, the Daily Mail reports. The notice to Disney was posted on the Osceola County website.
The removal of Disney's special treatment comes as part of an ongoing fight between the company and the state related to the DeSantis administration's Parental Rights in Education Bill, which prevents teachers from indoctrinating K-3 students in gender ideology. Ever since former CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against DeSantis' anti-grooming bill last year, the Governor has been angling to remove that self-governing privilege.
As The Post Millennial previously reported, DeSantis signed the bill into law on March 28 and on the same day Disney released a statement which said the law should be repealed and referred to it as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. In April, DeSantis signed a bill to end The Reedy Creek Improvement Act and said, "You're a corporation based in Burbank, California, and you’re gonna marshal your economic might to attack the parents of my state. We view that as a provocation, and we’re going to fight back against that."
"The governor is doing exactly what he said he would," DeSantis' former chief of staff Adrian Lukis said. "Disney can no longer have its own government and own taxing authority, and Disney — not taxpayers — will have to be responsible for any financial consequences."
Florida State Rep. Randy Fine has said that in order for Disney to repair its relationship with the state, the company must stop producing woke movies.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
