Disney has expanded it’s federal lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accusing him of orchestrating a political retribution against the company, on the heels of DeSantis signing legislation to void Disney’s development deals in Orlando, according to CNBC.
Per the report, Disney’s amended lawsuit also noted that Florida’s Republican-led legislature passed legislation last week that targeted Walt Disney World’s monorail system.
“Governor DeSantis and his allies have no apparent intent to moderate their retaliatory campaign any time soon,” Disney wrote in its additions to the civil complaint it filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee back in April.
Disney alleges that DeSantis began retaliation against the company back in 2022 after Disney publicly criticized his controversial Florida bill, which was dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics, which was aimed at limiting the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms.
DeSantis and his allies targeted Disney’s special tax district, formerly called the Reedy Creek Improvement District, where Disney was effectively self-governing their park operations in Orlando for decades.
The governor’s board members claimed the deals were unlawfully passed and undercut their power over the 25,000-acre area, however Disney argues that the contracts were crafted to help lock in it’s long-term development plans as tensions with the Florida governor, along with his allies, intensified.
DeSantis’ battle with Disney has drawn criticism from many, including democrats.
“The Governor’s inability to grasp basic economics, coupled with his punitive style, has created a bloated and protracted grudge match, which is being bankrolled by the taxpayers,” state Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat, said, according to CNBC. “As the state’s executive, heading the party which has historically yielded to free market principles and less regulation, this third legislative effort to injure a private company is antithetical to conservative governance.”
