Disney Worldwide Services continues to dig deep to make sure that gambling will not expand in the state of Florida.
The latest data on the state’s Division of Elections website showed that Disney has made at least three consecutive contributions amounting to $575,000 to the political committee Voters In Charge in September.
According to the group’s information on Facebook, Voters in Charge is sponsoring a ballot initiative “to give Florida voters, not politicians, the exclusive right to approve or disapprove casino gambling.”
In order for the measure to get on the November 2018 ballot, the group needs to submit at least 766,200 signatures.
As of last month, the number of petition signatures is at 285,526.
“Tens of thousands of Floridians are signing our petition each week and we are on track to accomplish our goal of securing enough signatures for ballot placement by year’s end,” John Sowinski, chairman of Voters in Charge, said in a statement. “We look forward to being on the 2018 ballot, mounting an aggressive statewide campaign and returning the ultimate authority to approve casino gambling to the people of Florida where it belongs.”
The number looks encouraging for corporations like Disney, which claims that destination casinos would spoil the family-friendly vibe that its DisneyWorld resort prefers to give off. As of Sept 30, Disney made a total contribution of $2.325 million.
No Casinos, an anti-casino expansion organization, has also doubled down its contribution to the amendment.
The amendment already got the blessing of the Supreme Court magistrates, except for Justices Ricky Polston and R. Fred Lewis, who both dissented that “the ballot title and summary do not clearly inform the public that the proposed amendment may substantially affect slot machines approved by county-wide (referendums).”
