Ron DeSantis just stepped in it in a major way
Ron DeSantis (GQP-FL) stepped in it with his vaccine passport ban, which includes a ban on the ability of private businesses to require people provide proof of vaccination to make use of the services provided by the businesses. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced that if Florida will not allow it to require proof of vaccination to board its ships, it would likely discontinue operating from Florida.
CEO Frank Del Rio said, “God forbid we can’t operate in the state of Florida for whatever reason, then there are other states that we do operate from. And we can operate from the Caribbean for ships that otherwise would’ve gone to Florida.” This would hit Miami especially hard since they just spent all that money to build a new terminal for Norwegian at PortMiami.
So much for supporting private enterprise and letting businesses do what they want. Ronny and the Florida GQP were in such a hurry to appease the Orange Florida Man and his base that they stepped on the toes of those who prop up Florida’s economy.
The industry has a vested interest in keeping people safe from disease. Not only would unvaccinated people risk getting their fellow cruise goers sick, but they would risk spreading disease at the ports of call. Or pick up diseases at these stops from locals who aren’t vaccinated either. Requiring everyone on a cruise to be vaccinated is really needed to get the industry back up and running again.
I suppose that will be the only thing that might make the GQP face reality is when companies that prop up Florida’s economy start looking to pull their money-making operations out of state. As they say, money talks and bullshit walks.
