PHOENIX — Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a bill aimed at renaming Loop 202 after Charlie Kirk.
The Arizona State Legislature previously passed legislation to rename the Valley freeway after Charlie Kirk, the late founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed in September.
SB 1010 moved on to Governor Katie Hobbs' desk for final approval, but was vetoed on March 27.
In a statement, Gov. Hobbs wrote:
"Charlie Kirk's assassination is tragic and a horrifying act of violence. In America, we resolve our political differences at the ballot box. No matter who it targets, political violence puts us all in harm's way and damages our sacred democratic institutions.
I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this bill falls short of that standard by inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan. Any renaming of a highway must follow the current process through the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names and not be circumvented by the Legislature."
The Loop 202 is a stretch of freeway that circles much of the Phoenix metro area. The legislation would have directed the Arizona Department of Transportation to designate the highway as the "Charlie Kirk Highway" in honor of the conservative speaker who was shot and killed while hosting an event at Utah Valley University in September.
The bill included language stating the new name would not override any existing designations and is not expected to impact the state's general fund.
Senate President Warren Petersen said in a statement that designating the 202 for Kirk would serve as a daily reminder of the importance of civic engagement.
"He believed Americans could disagree and still engage one another civilly and respectfully. He encouraged people, especially young people, to get involved in civic life and help shape the future of their communities. Designating Loop 202 ensures his contribution to civic engagement and public participation won't be forgotten," said Petersen.
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