A.G. Gancarski
Some may want Ron DeSantis to talk to The Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger, but the Florida Governor would prefer to talk about him.
During a Newsmax interview Friday, DeSantis said he hadn’t talked to Iger, amid some comments defending that position and explaining why the “party is over” for Disney, which he contended didn’t live up to expectations set in 1967 when the Reedy Creek Improvement District was established.
“I haven’t, I mean, look, the way I viewed it was we had the skirmish last year. We said no self government. We implemented that consistent with what I said in the campaign. They’re not going to have their own government,” DeSantis said.
“They’re going to live under the same laws, they’re going to pay taxes and pay the debts and that’s where it was headed until Disney pulled this maneuver. We’re in a situation now, forget about all the issues involving that,” DeSantis added. “You can’t have a situation where the Legislature has spoken and one company just decides to contract out against the will of the people.”
“I think that they just have to understand the party is over for them. They had 60 years of privileges that no other corporation in America has had, whether it was appropriate at the time to get them there, I don’t know,” DeSantis said. “But I can tell you this when that deal was done, it was done that way.”
“Because Disney promised to build communities and actually build cities where people would be able to live and work and they never followed through on that promise.”
Florida’s most recent former Governor wishes constructive dialogue would ensue, meanwhile.
During a radio hit on WIOD, Rick Scott said governors have “got to figure out how to work with our companies. My goal is to sit down with people and find out: ‘How do you get things done?’”
“I got conservative things passed every year I was Governor,” he added. “So I think it’s important that every Governor in the country work with their business community to say, ‘How can we work together?’”
Scott went on to note that Disney is a leading economic engine in the state.
“I think half the people who come to Florida as tourists go to Disney … 25% of our sales tax is paid by tourists,” Scott said. “So it’s a big deal for our budget.”
“I hope that cooler heads are going to prevail and we get this resolved,” he added.
Scott’s Senate colleague Marco Rubio agrees.
“I think where it gets problematic in the eyes of some people is when you start creating the idea — and I’m not saying we’re there yet as a state — but the idea that somehow like if you run crossways with us politically, whoever is in charge, then you know, you wind up in the crosshairs of the Legislature for political purposes,” Rubio said.
“I do worry that if this happens too many times, businesses that are thinking about coming to Florida are saying, ‘Maybe we don’t want to go there because if we get into a firestorm with them politically, they’re going to come after our business again’,” Rubio added, saying that’s still a “hypothetical issue.”
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California takes a similar position.
“This is a big employer inside Florida,” he added, in comments reported by Newsweek.
“I think the Governor should sit down with them. I don’t think the idea of building a prison next to a place where you bring your family is the best idea. I think it’d be much better if you sat down and solved the problems,” McCarthy continued.
Earlier this month, when discussing new legislation to wrestle control back from Disney, the Florida Governor suggested the state had every right to do what it wanted on land in the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.
“People are like, well, ‘What should we do with this land? Maybe create a state park? Maybe try to do more amusement parks,’” DeSantis said before adding the prison quip. “Somebody even said, ‘Maybe you need another state prison?’ Who knows? I just think that the possibilities are endless, and so that is now going to be analyzed to see what would make the most sense.”
The Disney prison isn’t happening, but other moves are.
The Governor signed legislation changing Disney’s special district in the wake of the company opposing 2022’s Parental Rights in Education law, leading to Disney filing a federal lawsuit against DeSantis and other state parties for a “targeted campaign of government retaliation.” DeSantis has signed more legislation Friday revoking deals Disney made before the RCID’s dissolution.
Meanwhile, the state-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board that replaced Reedy Creek plans to countersue Disney in state court. And the state is ready to inspect Disney’s monorail, in another punitive measure.
21 comments
JD
May 6, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Put this up for public deciding. Ballot initiative to remove ALL special districts in FL. It’s only fair. This way the will of the voters is done and it’s fair across the board for all companies.
Billy the Bamboozler
May 6, 2023 at 1:43 pm
Was a 6 week abortion ban “the will of the voters?” Take a look at the numbers on that one…
JD
May 6, 2023 at 2:02 pm
I agree – all the “big” topics should be put to the ballot. Abortion, Special Districts, School Voucher expansion.
Instead we get “hunting and fishing” (not that I am against that), but come on – how about the BIG stuff for “the people” to decide? While I am ok with representative government for the day to day, these things are big things that affect people’s quality of life.
Billy the Bamboozler
May 6, 2023 at 9:21 pm
One party getting in there and doing something that a lot of people don’t want.. and then another party getting in there and trying to unravel it and doing more things that a lot of people don’t want..or both parties not doing something that everyone wants..is not representative government. It’s nothing really. Flawed democracy, flawed government, failure.
Earl Pitts American
May 6, 2023 at 2:14 pm
No Ron has not spoke to the CEO of Disney.
But Bob Iger did call Rick Scott begging Scott to use his influnce on Ron to allow Disney to continue it’s woke political blackmail in Florida along with the unabated streaming all manner of woke @55, perverse, sex dysphoric content right into your babies bedrooms in Florida.
And guess what America? Rather than telling Iger to go to HE double hocky sticks Rick pressured Desantis with some kind of “cant we all just get along” press release in order to undermine Ron and kiss up to head perve mouse Iger.
Thank you America
Earl Pitts American
Elliott Offen
May 6, 2023 at 9:23 pm
You’ve said a lot without really saying anything. Thank you for wasting everyone’s time as usual.. vandalizing the website.
Michael K
May 6, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Florida’s governor is in a bubble protected by his brown shirts, and now shielded from Florida Sunshine laws. “Woke” is the only trick he has, and that is wearing mighty thin. He lacks basic interpersonal skills and a knack for basic retail political charm. He’s in way over his head, and is staying afloat only because a compliant legislature is willing to mop up the messes after him.
Insults and temper tantrums will carry the thin-skinned crybaby only so far. His service in Congress was unremarkable, where he built no rapport with colleagues. Like most bullies, he’s ultimately too cowardly to actually engage in dialogue with anyone who dares to disagree.
JD
May 6, 2023 at 4:45 pm
Everyone! Shh! Quiet down! The great Pitts for Shitts has spoken!
All bow before his great wisdom, grammar skills, and spelling prowess! Not to mention his strawmen and conflations!
We all hail your intellect Pitts for Shitts!
Oooomm Oooooom!!
Earl Pitts American
May 6, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Thank you JD for complimenting my superior intelect and perfect spelling my friend. Now I suggest you go back and read the other comments. You will see that most of them are made by the same person under diffetent fake names. And you will wonder if anyone can really be that stupid in those dook 4 brains leftiest wacko posts. It will be all taken care of very soon after President Desantis takes office JD.
Keep the faith JD, dont speak to any dook 4 brains lefists my man, and JD be carefull if your in a room full of dook 4 brains leftists, many of them are violent homertesticals who want to penitrate your tater hole.
Other than that JD have an Earl Pitts American Day.
Thank you JD,
Earl Pitts American
Bert Stimson
May 6, 2023 at 7:22 pm
Suck tiny Ron’s tiny dick Earl.
Elliott Offen
May 6, 2023 at 9:25 pm
👆 Schizophrenia and narcissistic delusions are one hell of a combination. Needs inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and medication court ordered.
Liberal Lunatic
May 7, 2023 at 8:26 am
Oh so Elliott is a Dr eh? His specialty is BS which he tosses around this site daily. He certainly doesn’t tolerate different opinions. That’s how the Dr and the rest of the zombies here operate.
Jojo
May 7, 2023 at 6:45 am
Superior “intelect” lol
Keep the jokes coming Earl.
Earl Pitts American
May 7, 2023 at 8:48 am
Good morning America,
Earl Pitts “Brave Trailblazer” American boldly going into the “den of dook 4 brains lefties” where other conservatives fear to go.
There’s nothing better than annoying these fat white boys, in their tighty whities, key tapping in the safe space “cocoon” of mom’s basement.
Note to other conservatives:
Your great leader, Earl Pitts “Trail Blazer” American is kicking these fat @55 white boys where they live. Annoying them in their former “safe space”.
You like minded conservatives need to heed the call to duty, get out of the lazy boy recliner, and join me, Earl Pitts “Trail Blazer” American, in standing up for conservative values.
Boys and Girls I, Earl Pitts American, am like a one legged butt-kicker who could use a little help here in annoying these fatty white boy key tappers in their Mom’s basement who love to spew out the most childish vile leftist propaganda in their former on-line “safe space”.
So where are my Peeps?
Heed the call my conservative friends, once you place a few kicks on these dook 4 brains butts, you will like it!!!
Lets shake up their safe space together and mop up the stinking mess they have made in their club house together.
Thank you America,
Earl Pitts “Trail Blazer” Ameican
Jojo
May 8, 2023 at 7:50 am
Found the spell checker, have you?
I like the “one-legged butt kicker” imagery. Invokes a picture of you attempting to kick liberal arse, but falling on your own instead.
Have a magical day!
tom palmer
May 6, 2023 at 5:26 pm
It seems Gov. DeSantis should have gotten better advice or, if he did, listened to it.
Bert Stimson
May 6, 2023 at 7:21 pm
DePantsless doesn’t talk to anyone but Casey, that’s why he’s so disliked by his fellow politicians and humans in general.
Mouse at Disney
May 6, 2023 at 9:03 pm
Everyone in DeSantis’s administration and elected legislators need to save their text messages, phone call log and emails.
That includes you Ashley!
THE MOUSE HAS SPOKEN!
Earl Pitts American
May 7, 2023 at 9:01 am
Good morning Mickey,
Me, Earl Pitts “Husband To Your Ex-Wife Minnie” American,
Beg you to stop going to those disese spreading parties at #unter 8iden’s house with that “monkey it up” failed FL gubinotorial candidate.
We have found a new party spot for you Mickey called The Betty Ford Celeberty Party Clinic for cool Super Stars Mickey. Come on over and we will get you on your way to partying with the stars!!!
Thank you Mickey,
Earl Pitts “Husband to your Ex-Wife Minnie” American
Dont Say FLA
May 7, 2023 at 10:48 am
If she wants a meeting with Disney execs, hopefully Florida’s next governor will just ask instead of taking hostages and playing stupid games.
Tjb
May 10, 2023 at 5:10 pm
DeSantis does not have a pair.
Why is he afraid to speak with Iger?
Is he afraid that Iger will not follow a script supplied by Casey and Christina Pushaw?
If he ever has to debate Biden,
the alleged senile old man, will run circle around Ron.
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