DeSantis is pulling a Trump maneuver by attacking a private company simply because it voiced an opinion he didn't like.
Like the moron Gov in Texas who shut down the supply chain coming from the Southern border, this guy doesn't understand how this pitiful and spiteful tantrum amounts to a tax increase on Floridians.
For years Republicans have argued that corporations are people who should be allowed to free speech, even political speech. But the second one corporation doesn't toe the line with their idiotic culture wars, then suddenly free speech no longer applies to them.
This is so blatantly unconstitutional that even Trump's former attorney said Disney is going to cream DeSantis in a lawsuit.
Up until now, the Walt Disney World Resort has been exempt from certain regulations and taxes and has been allowed to control construction on its 25,000-acre property, known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Reedy Creek also levies taxes on Disney to pay for the resort's own fire and medical response teams.
The dissolving of the district will require the two Florida counties that contain the sprawling resort to step in and provide services. This could lead to a potential double-digit tax increase for residents in Orange and Osceola counties.
Ellis, who was hired as a senior legal analyst by then-president Trump in 2019, has argued that the legislation violates Disney's constitutional right to free speech, telling Newsweek that the government cannot punish Disney's "protected speech" but that this is "exactly what the State of Florida is doing."
"DeSantis and Florida legislators have admitted (and even fundraised off of!) their motive for retaliation against Disney because Disney put out a statement and said it would use its resources to fight against the Parental Rights in Education bill," she wrote.
The attorney said that in order for Disney to successfully argue that their constitutional right is being violated, the company would need to prove that they engaged in protected conduct, such as speech, and that adverse action was taken against Disney and that the adverse action was motivated in part by the protected conduct.
"Disney clearly meets all of the elements here. The First Amendment right to criticize government or public officials or legislation is supported by caselaw and the Constitution," she said. "What Florida is doing is illegal and unconstitutional."
Ellis emphasized that while she doesn't necessarily agree with Disney's position, she is a "constitutional conservative" who is dedicated to defending the right to speech "regardless of whether I agree with the speech or conduct, and regardless of whether the offending government is a blue or red state."
"The right to disagree with our government is a hallmark of American liberty," Ellis said.
She has offered her legal services to Disney should the company want to take DeSantis and other Florida Republicans to court.