SUMMARY

• Disney intensifies its legal battle against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
• Governor accused of retaliation after Disney criticizes controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill
• Democrats criticize DeSantis for wasting taxpayer money and acting like a socialist tyrant

 Disney has stepped up its legal game against Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, accusing him of continuing his "payback spree" against the entertainment giant. This follows DeSantis' recent move to sign legislation that would effectively nix Disney's development deals in Orlando.

To make things spicier, the Florida Legislature, dominated by Republicans, passed a bill last week that takes aim at Disney World's iconic monorail system. Disney expressed its disappointment in its updated civil complaint, saying DeSantis and his pals aren't planning on chilling out their vengeful mission anytime soon.

So, what triggered this whole drama? Well, Disney and DeSantis have been butting heads since 2022 after Disney voiced its disagreement with the controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill that restricts the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. In retaliation, DeSantis and his crew went after Disney's special tax district, Reedy Creek Improvement District, which has allowed Disney to basically run the show at its Orlando parks for years.

The squabble became a full-blown legal brawl after the new board of supervisors, handpicked by DeSantis himself, voted to cancel the development deals Disney had sealed just before they took over. DeSantis' squad claims the agreements were unlawful and undercut their authority over the massive 25,000-acre area. Disney, on the other hand, insists the contracts were designed to secure its long-term development plans amid the growing tension with DeSantis and his posse.

Adding fuel to the fire, DeSantis signed a bill on the last day of the 2023 legislative session that contains language directly targeting Disney's development contracts. Democratic members of the Legislature have been swift to denounce the ongoing feud, accusing DeSantis of wasting taxpayer money and acting like a socialist tyrant instead of a Republican prodigy.

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