Bob Iger on Monday called the actions of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vs The Walt Disney Co. retaliation, “anti-business” and “anti-Florida.”
The feud between DeSantis and the company escalated Monday, when the governor asked the state inspector general to determine whether the House of Mouse’s cunning move to maintain control of the outer limits of Orange and Osceola counties — and whether any of the company’s executives were involved in the scheme.
At the company’s annual shareholder meeting Monday, Disney CEO Iger answered investor questions about the ongoing dispute between the company and Florida lawmakers. He noted that Disney has more than 75,000 employees in the state, and has created thousands of indirect jobs, as well as bringing approximately 50 million visitors to Florida each year and is the state’s largest taxpayer.
“A year ago, the company took a position on pending legislation in Florida,” Iger said, apparently referring to what critics called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. “And while the company may not handle the position it takes very well, a company has the same right to freedom of speech as individuals do.”
Bob Iger, CEO, Disney, in an interview with CNBC, Feb. 9, 2023.
Randy Shropshire | CNBC
He added: “The governor was very angry about the position that Disney had taken and apparently decided to retaliate against us, including naming a new board to oversee the property and business. In fact, to try to punish a company for the exercise of a constitutional right. And that seems really wrong to me.”
Iger said Disney plans to spend more than $17 billion in investments at Walt Disney World over the next decade, which will create about 13,000 jobs at the company and generate more taxes for Florida.
“Our point here is that any action that supports those efforts just to retaliate for a position taken by the company is not only anti-business, but it sounds anti-Florida,” he said. “And I’ll just let it go.”
Last week, DeSantis’ newly appointed board of the Reedy Creek district, now named the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, revealed that the former Disney-allied board had signed a long-term agreement that severely limits the control it can exercise. in its company and district.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at ‘The Florida Blueprint’ event in Long Island, New York, United States on April 1, 2023. Ron DeSantis commented on the Grand Jury indictment of Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of United States in Manhattan, New York.
Kyle Mazza | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The agreement was signed on Feb. 8, the day before the Florida House voted to put DeSantis in charge. DeSantis replaced all Disney-allied board members with five Republicans on Feb. 27. It was only then that Disney’s new binding agreement was discovered.
The treaty included a clause that dates back to 1692 in Britain. The “Declaration shall continue in force until 21 years after the death of the last surviving descendant of King Charles III, King of England, living at the date of this declaration,” the document said.
The governor’s letter calls the board’s agreement an attempt to “usurp the CFTOD board’s authority” and “repeal recently passed legislation, curtail Florida’s legislative process, and defy the will of Floridians.”
He said the agreement also had “legal infirmities” including insufficient notice, improper delegation of authority and ethical violations.
Disney, however, said all of the board’s maneuvers were completely legal — the deal was discussed and approved in open, public forums, in compliance with Florida’s Sunshine law.
The development in DeSantis’ conflict with Disney marks just the latest step in one of several partisan battles waged by the Republican governor.
DeSantis is widely believed to be laying the groundwork to launch a 2024 presidential campaign. That move is expected to come shortly after Florida’s current legislative session ends in early May. Polls show DeSantis is the most competitive of the potential opponents for former President Donald Trump in a GOP primary.
Florida’s governor targeted Disney after the company publicly rejected Florida’s HB 1557 law early last year. HB 1557, which critics called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, limits early education instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Republican state Rep. Randy Fine on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in April said the Reedy Creek dissolution bill was not retaliation, but then said “when Disney kicked the hornet’s nest, we looked at special districts.”
Until recently, there was no major public discussion about dissolving Disney’s long-established special district, which it occupied for 55 years, leading DeSantis’ critics to question its timing and the governor’s speed of action. against the company.
The battle between DeSantis and Disney shows no signs of slowing down. At a book tour stop in Georgia last week, DeSantis told attendees “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
