Florida - Thursday February 9, 2023: A bill stripping Disney of its self-governing status won quick and overwhelming passage in the Florida House Thursday afternoon and now moves onto the Senate where a similar outcome is expected on Friday.
It was over fairly quickly, divided along party lines, with democrats opposed and republicans voting for HB-9B which strips Disney of its control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District and gives the Governor the power to appoint the District’s Board members.
The vote was 82 yeas for the bill, 31 nays against.
Here's a sample of what was said:
Republican Randy Fine of Brevard County - "For decades, people in Orange County complained, ‘Man this stink. Like, Ready Creek is like the greatest removal of home rule. We’re going to take an entire territory away from a county and we’re going to give it to a company to run it itself.’ We’re just saying they’re going to be governed by people who don’t work for them just like every other company in the state of Florida.”
Rep. Jennifer Harris, a democrat from Orlando - “We filed an amendment that would allow the Mayor of Orange County and Osceola County and the Mayor of Orlando and Kissimmee to be appointed to the Board as well. That amendment failed."
Rep Fred Hawkins, a republican from Osceola County - “We’ve heard about the governance structure and how much it’s a bad idea that the Governor would appoint to this board. Those powers are the same that he has for other jurisdictions.”
Orlando Rep LaVon Bracy Davis, a democrat - “This is about retribution and punishment to get back at a company that used their first amendment right to take a stance on behalf of the community.”
The outcome was never in doubt. - “The clerk will lock the machine and announce the vote. 82 yeas and 31 nays Madame Speaker. Sure, the bills passes, read the next bill.”