A federal appellate court is keeping Florida’s social media law — intended to address alleged platform bias against conservatives — on hold, after a three judge panel ruled that it was “substantially likely” that it violates the First Amendment.
04.05.2022 - 22:21 / deadline.com
A group of Florida residents has sued the state’s governor and other officials over the repeal of a special tax district that has allowed Walt Disney World to self-govern its operations since it was created 55 years ago.
DeSantis signed a law repealing the Reedy Creek Improvement District after Disney announced its opposition to the state’s new parental rights law, also known as the “don’t say gay’ bill by its opponents.
In the lawsuit, the residents — Michael Foronda, Edward Foronda and Vivian Gorsky — contend that the repeal of the district violates their federal constitutional rights as taxpayers as well as state rights. They cite reports that repealing the district will leave taxpayers responsible for the district’s debt, estimated by some experts as much as $1 billion. But they also contend that taxpayers will be left with footing the bill for regulatory burdens in overseeing the district, as well as services like a fire department.
“The stated and undisputed reason behind the bill is to punish Walt Disney World and subsequently Florida taxpayers,” the plaintiffs said in the suit. “Governor DeSantis has been clear on his intended punishment of Disney, although he claims the elimination of Disney’s central district will not affect central taxpayers.”
The plaintiffs are property owners in the surrounding counties, according to the lawsuit. It asks a judge to set aside the repeal and to issue injunctive relief to prevent enforcement.
Disney has not commented on DeSantis’ move to repeal the district, which would not take effect until next year. But Reedy Creek issued a statement to investors last month that suggested a challenge, noting a provision in the 1967 creation of the district that suggests it can’t be dissolved
A federal appellate court is keeping Florida’s social media law — intended to address alleged platform bias against conservatives — on hold, after a three judge panel ruled that it was “substantially likely” that it violates the First Amendment.
last week threw out the suit less than a week after it was initially filed. The same group of plaintiffs and legal teams has now refiled the suit in the 11th Judicial Circuit state court in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The move was expected.
As The Walt Disney Co. continues to be a Republican target in the political culture wars, President Joe Biden once again is trying to turn the tables on the attacks on the Mouse House.
The sign outside the entrance to Florida’s Disney World has been a lightning rod for protests of late. This past weekend was no exception.
On Last Week Tonight With John Oliver the host explains why restricting Disney World’s self-governing abilities will hurt the state of Florida in the long run.
What are they trying to inject in? What kind of ideology are they trying to pursue? And that is wrong,” DeSantis bellowed. This, of course, led Twitter to swiftly remind the Florida governor and champion of the harmful “Don’t Say Gay” bill that Bugs Bunny, a character created in the late 1930s and beloved by children around the world, is canonically trans.As people like Zak Wood and others have pointed out on Twitter (leading “Bugs Bunny” to trend), Bugs was based, in part, on the Norse god of mischief and they are typically nonbinary or trans.
After less than six months, there is another changing of the communications guard at the Walt Disney Company.
The Walt Disney Co. has remained publicly silent since Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law last week dissolving a special district set up 55-years ago to let the company self-govern much of the area around Walt Disney World.
despite the recent law abolishing its special tax district by 2023, the state of Florida can’t actually do that unless it also covers all outstanding debts associated with the district.
Tampa Bay Times the guidance is not enforced by the state, but offers and explains recommendations to families and health care providers.“Physicians may use guidance from different authoritative sources, including government entities and professional associations, in determining the best course of treatment for their patients,” she said in a statement.In March, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an “information memorandum” urging states to use their child welfare systems to protect and support LGBTQI+ youth, and informing agencies that gender-affirming care is a valid form of medically necessary treatment for transgender youth suffering from gender dysphoria. HHS also released guidance making clear that denials of medically necessary health care based on a person’s gender identity are illegal under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, as is restricting doctors from providing such care or prescribing gender-affirming treatments for youth struggling with gender dysphoria.Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo accused HHS of publishing its guidance for political and not medical reasons.
NBC News. To handle other matters, such as policing or the courts, Disney has partnered with other local governments to share some of the burden.But DeSantis became fixated on the special status granted to Disney after the company spoke out against and called for the repeal of a so-called “parental rights” measure he signed into law limiting LGBTQ content or discussions in schools.The law, which goes into effect July 1, has been dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics.
Ron DeSantis revoking Disney’s special tax district privileges and self-governing abilities.DeSantis signed the measure into law on Friday, marking the latest move by the Governor who has repeatedly railed against “woke corporations.” It was widely viewed as retaliation to Disney over their objections to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. To kick off the discussion on Monday, “View” host Ana Navarro admitted that though she originally supported DeSantis when he became Florida’s governor, she’s lost faith in him and is “really bothered” by his actions against Disney.“I don’t understand, though, how you can call yourself a pro-business, pro-freedom of speech, small government, against canceling conservative, if you want to cancel one of the major corporations in Florida for freely speaking their mind in protection of their employees,” Navarro said.She also pointed out how the bill primarily targets Disney, which is definitely not the only company to have a special tax district in the state.“There are 1,844 special taxing districts in Florida. And so it was to penalize and take revenge against Disney for having dared cross a pet legislative cause of theirs, and that is wrong,” Navarro added.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed legislation on Friday that regulates the teaching of race and gender. The “Stop WOKE Act” or Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act restricts any workplace and school instruction that teaches people are “inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.” After signing the bill, DeSantis said, “In Florida, we will not let the far-left woke agenda take over our schools and workplaces. There is no place for indoctrination or discrimination in Florida.”The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) condemned the bill for “censoring honest dialogue about systemic racism, gender, and race discrimination.”Cathryn M.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida Gov.
tweet as “anti-CRT legislation putting an end to corporate and educational indoctrination in Florida” (“CRT” stands for critical race theory). Critics though, have said the law censors honest dialogue about systemic racism, gender and race discrimination.“Today, Governor DeSantis did the opposite of what the governor of Florida is elected to do – to protect and serve all of his constituents – choosing instead to yet again use the power of the government to punish or censor anyone he disagrees with and attack marginalized Floridians, including the LGBTQ+ community,” said Cathryn M.
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Friday to abolish Disney’s self-governing district in Orlando, punishing the company for its opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.The bill would dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which covers nearly 40 square miles of Orange and Osceola counties and encompasses the Disney theme parks and resorts.
Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe Florida Legislature voted Thursday to terminate Disney’s self-governing district in Orlando, in a move intended to retaliate for the company’s opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill.The House of Representatives approved the bill on a vote of 70-38, a day after the measure passed through the state Senate. The bill is expected to be signed by Gov.
Associated Press. On Wednesday, the legislation passed the Florida Senate, and it now heads to the desk of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who during a fundraising pitch yesterday said that “Disney and other woke corporations won’t get away with peddling their unchecked pressure campaigns any longer.” It’s the latest move in a political battle after Disney publicly condemned Florida’s passage of its controversial “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.Representatives for Disney did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.