Former Vice President Mike Pence took a jab at potential 2024 foe Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) over his policies toward Disney.
While commending DeSantis's moves to safeguard parental rights over children in the classroom, Pence contended that his recent steps leading toward the takeover of Disney's self-governing district went beyond the scope of limited-government conservatism.
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"I fully support what Florida did about protecting kids under the third grade," Pence told CNBC's Squawk Box. "I have concerns about the follow-on. Disney stepped into the fray. They lost. But then [with] the taxing authority — that was beyond the scope of what I, as a conservative, limited-government Republican, would be prepared to do."
"I fully supported the Florida initiative to protect kids and parental rights," says fmr. Vice President @Mike_Pence. "@Disney stepped into the fray. But [what @GovRonDeSantis] did was beyond the scope of what I, as a limited government Republican, would be prepared to do." pic.twitter.com/QzFehzYm7f
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) February 22, 2023
Disney drew DeSantis's ire last year when it opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay Bill" by detractors, which imposed limits on classroom instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation for kindergarten through third grade.
Initially, DeSantis moved to eliminate Disney's self-governing status in its district, but ultimately, the Florida legislature concluded that would risk posing an increased tax burden on locals, so it moved to give DeSantis control over the board that oversees development at Walt Disney World earlier this month.
DeSantis has consistently polled as a top GOP challenger in a hypothetical 2024 primary race, with Pence typically coming in a distant third, per the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.
Although DeSantis has become a darling in many conservative circles for crusading against woke policies by wielding government power, some such as Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) have voiced apprehension about his heavy-handedness with the government.
Both Pence and DeSantis have largely refrained from getting mired in early squabbles ahead of a possible showdown, especially with former President Donald Trump. Pence also iterated his assertion that the party will have better options than Trump in 2024.
"When you look at the 2022 election cycle, it’s an affirmation that elections are about the future," the former vice president said. "We’re going to have better choices [than Donald Trump] in 2024."
Pence has openly said he is contemplating a run. So far, the only other major GOP contender against Trump is former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who declared last week.
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During his wide-ranging interview, Pence also backed calls to reform entitlement programs, which has fueled political ammunition for both Trump and President Joe Biden.
“We have to put [Social Security and Medicare] on the table in the long-term,” Pence continued. “We’re looking at a debt crisis in this country over the next 25 years that is driven by entitlements, and no one in Washington, D.C., wants to talk about it."