“My experience with Disney had been positive,” Scott said.
Scott’s less combative tone over Disney is another reminder of the stylistic and policy differences between the two Florida Republicans, with both being seen as potential 2024 challengers if former President Donald Trump does not run again. It also highlights other areas where the two Florida Republicans diverge, including on using federal aid and the current Russian invasion in Ukraine.
DeSantis and Scott have had an icy relationship ever since the former congressman moved into the governor’s mansion. DeSantis in 2020, for example, authorized an investigation into Florida’s deeply troubled $77 million unemployment website portal that was established when Scott served as the state’s governor. The site repeatedly crashed during the pandemic and the state’s chief inspector general faulted the companies that built the portal and the Scott administration…
Scott, meanwhile, has expressed sharper criticism of Russia and Vladimir Putin and has called for on all state government to “take every action possible” to end relationships with the Russian government and Russian-owned businesses after Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Florida has not taken any action to divest an estimated $300 million in holdings, although the value of those investments have likely declined in value and investment managers now say they can’t access it.
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