| Good morning. Yes, this is still Emily — don't be fooled by my updated headshot.
Gov. Ron DeSantis followed through on his veto threat this week and rejected the congressional redistricting maps passed by the Florida Legislature. That means yet another special session, scheduled April 19-22, during which lawmakers will go back to Tallahassee to try to appease the governor by passing maps he will sign. This is the starkest disagreement so far between DeSantis and his fellow Republican state leaders. This story breaks down DeSantis' argument for why he says the existing maps are unconstitutional, which has to do with Black voters' representation in North Florida and Orlando. The maps he's pushed for more heavily favor Republicans. But lawmakers have been so uncertain about his legal analysis they originally passed two maps to include a backup version. Will the courts have to get involved? For now, House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson said they will "exhaust every effort in pursuit of a legislative solution." — Emily L. Mahoney, emahoney@tampabay.com |
| [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] |
| Florida's GOP v. The Mouse |
| The Rundown: In the days since Disney first publicly voiced its concerns to Florida's "Parental Rights in Education" bill, or what critics call the "don't say gay" bill, the clashes between the company and politicians over the bill have continued to escalate. DeSantis blasted the company to supporters and in campaign releases. Disney froze its political giving in the state. And this week, shortly after the bill was signed, the company issued a statement saying its "goal as a company" is for the bill to be repealed or struck down in the courts. It also said it plans to support advocacy groups working to achieve those ends. (All the rhetoric surrounding the new law is still confusing. Here are three things to know, plus a breakdown of the language in the legislation). DeSantis, in response, said the corporation had "crossed a line." Then, Rep. Joe Harding, R-Williston, and a sponsor of that bill, announced he's giving back the $3,000 his campaign has received from the corporation. Yesterday, in a shot across the bow to one of the most powerful companies in Florida, Rep. Spencer Roach, R-North Fort Myers, tweeted that he has spoken to other lawmakers about repealing the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act because of the company's stance.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District was once called "the Vatican with mouse ears," by political scientist and Disney expert Rick Foglesong, as quoted in the nonfiction book Team Rodent by Carl Hiaasen. (Yes, I pulled my copy out just for this reference.) The improvement district was specially created for Disney so it could provide its own utilities, planning, zoning, building inspections, fire department, even bonding authority and the option of creating its own police force — which it hasn't, beyond using its own private security.
In a phone interview, Foglesong, a professor at Rollins College in Winter Park, told me that there's little chance Disney will back down from its stance. That's because it's now a challenge to their brand as being in support of equality and as "everybody's theme park." "Disney is one of the most popular companies in America if not the world... and they sort of live and die by that," he said. DeSantis, who rode the wave of Trumpism to the governor's mansion with the help of nationalized campaign donors rather than Florida institutions, is using his massive popularity among his base to punch Disney. But it will be more difficult for individual Republican lawmakers who may need the company's financial backing, Foglesong noted, creating a challenge if lawmakers intend to pursue a repeal of the special district. "I think it's going to be two scorpions in a bottle here," he said. |
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