DeSantis to Nullify Disney Deal That Avoided State Oversight

Facts

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said the Fla. state legislature will revoke a development agreement that Disney, the state’s largest employer, made with outgoing members of an oversight board to avoid state supervision.¹
• DeSantis last year signed legislation to end Disney’s self-governing status in Florida and replace members of an oversight board with appointees from his office. Recently, it was revealed that Disney negotiated a deal with the prior board to nullify the effects of that law and retain control of development rights on its properties for many years to come in a move that DeSantis called illegal.²
• Disney says its agreements are “appropriate and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums.”³
• DeSantis said the Florida legislature will soon introduce a bill to revoke the deal Disney negotiated and end Disney’s right to inspect its own rides and not be subjected to inspections from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.⁴
• Disagreements between DeSantis and Disney over the company’s special-governing district near the city of Orlando started when Disney criticized Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, called the “Don’t Say Gay” law by opponents, which restricted teaching on sexual orientation up until the third grade.⁵
• In addition to announcing the legislation, DeSantis said his office is considering developing the land near Disney’s property, even suggesting the state could build a prison next to Walt Disney World.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²USA Today, ³Forbes, ⁴Associated Press, ⁵NBC, and ⁶Daily Mail.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by New York Post. Disney acts as though it’s above the law when it’s not. Had Disney just negotiated with the DeSantis administration about its special district instead of working outside deals with board members, there would be no need for the governor’s office to pursue this legislation. Of course, had Disney known its place and refrained from making political statements, it probably wouldn’t have drawn DeSantis’ wrath in the first place.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Huffington Post. DeSantis had no problem with Disney’s operations when it was contributing to his gubernatorial campaigns and staying silent on politics. Now that he’s been outmaneuvered by the company on the special-district legislation, the governor is willing to put the state’s safety and economy on the line to look strong for potential presidential voters. But Disney just might have more resources and options than the governor to outfox this one.