Florida Republican takes aim at Special Olympics for pettiest reason

Florida state Rep. Randy Fine threw a hissy fit over not being invited to a fundraising event, text messages show.

The Florida lawmaker who sponsored a bill punishing Disney for opposing the state’s new anti-LGBTQ education law is apparently a shakedown artist, and newly revealed texts suggest he has a fresh target in mind: the Special Olympics.

Republican state Rep. Randy Fine was an early backer of a bill signed into law Friday that rescinds Disney’s special tax status after company officials spoke against what opponents are referring to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

On the same day Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the anti-Disney bill, a public records request revealed a series of text messages in which Fine engaged in a petty standoff against a local official.

In the text exchange, Fine told West Melbourne City Council Member John Dittmore that state funding for the Special Olympics is in danger because Jennifer Jenkins, a local school board member he doesn’t like, was invited to a fundraising event for the organization. Fine was not invited initially.

“Jenkins just put your project and special Olympics funding on the veto list,” Fine wrote to Dittmore.

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