-
Disney donates to politicians again – just months after ending feud with Ron DeSantis.
-
The Florida theme park is even donating to Republicans who voted for the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
-
Disney executives’ opposition to the bill led to a years-long conflict with DeSantis.
Since ending its feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Disney has wasted no time in donating to Republicans.
The Walt Disney Co. gave more than $87,000 in in-kind donations to political committees, including Republican lawmakers, in April and May, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
That’s a turnaround for the House of Mouse, which had halted political donations over its feud with DeSantis.
The yearslong feud first began in 2022 when Disney executives publicly opposed DeSantis’ bill — now signed into law — that would restrict discussions about gender and sexual orientation in classrooms.
Critics dubbed the legislation the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
In response to their opposition, DeSantis seized control of the board that oversees Disney World’s special tax district, renaming it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and replacing all board members with his own.
Disney, in turn, filed a lawsuit, arguing that it was a political target; The DeSantis administration immediately filed a lawsuit.
But the legal back-and-forth ended in March when DeSantis’ hand-picked board agreed to settle the lawsuit filed by Disney.
Ironically, Disney is now offering benefits to Republican lawmakers who voted in favor of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the Sentinel reported.
That includes an in-kind donation worth more than $16,000 to Florida Farmers and Ranchers United, a group associated with Republican Rep. Josie Tomkow, campaign finance records show. Tomkow voted in favor of the bill officially called the Parental Rights in Education Act.
Disney also donated about $10,000 each to two committees tied to Republican Sen. Jason Brodeur and Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, campaign finance records show. Both state lawmakers also supported the controversial bill.
Although Disney has resumed in-kind donations, Florida Democratic Senator Geraldine Thompson said Disney headquarters has not yet approved the cash donations, the Sentinel reported.
Read the original article on Business Insider
