DeSantis’s attack on Disney will likely fail — and that’s probably OK with him

May 3, 2022

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has recently made headlines by attacking the Walt Disney Company after the company criticized Florida legislation that would severely restrict education in public schools on sexual orientation and gender identity. Central to these attacks has been the passage of a bill by the Florida legislature to revoke Disney World’s designation as a special tax district, which had given Disney effective control of the geographic area around Disney World.

Immediately in the days following Gov. DeSantis’ signing the bill into law, potential problems with it emerged. Some have argued that the bill’s passage will lead to significant tax increases on Florida citizens. Others have pointed out that the legislation is very likely to be overturned in court. You might think either of these outcomes would bother the Florida governor. You’d be wrong.

Opinion by Stuart Shapiro, The Hill, May 2, 2022

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