ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV

Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation Friday that would have authorized the Arizona Department of Transportation to create a special license plate that Arizonans could purchase as a memorial to Kirk, the controversial Arizona resident and conservative political activist who was assassinated last year while speaking to college students in Utah. The sales would have helped raise money for Turning Point USA, the organization he founded.

The Democratic governor, in her 12th veto so far this legislation session, called what happened to Kirk "tragic and a horrifying act of violence."

"In America, we resolve our political differences at the ballot box,'' she said in her veto message.

But Hobbs said she could not support the license-plate measure, saying it is "inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan.''

In Arizona, any nonprofit can ask to have a special license plate. What it takes is a state law specifically authorizing it — which is what Queen Creek Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman had sought for the Kirk proposal — plus $32,000 for ADOT to start the process. Those who want to buy the plate then pay an extra $25 a year, with $17 of that going to the sponsoring organization and the rest to the state.

Approved plates promote causes ranging from public television and the Make-A-Wish foundation to one that promotes the national motto "In God We Trust'' and another with the message "Choose Life'' that raises money for the anti-abortion Arizona Life Coalition.

Hobbs made no mention of any of those other plates in her veto message.

Hoffman, a supporter of Kirk, criticized the governor for claiming the proposal was "inserting politics'' into the process. Instead, he said it is Hobbs who is guilty of "grotesque partisanship.''

He pointed out, for example, that the state has honored former Democratic Congressman Ed Pastor by naming a stretch of freeway for him.

"No one suggested that recognition was inappropriate simply because he held political views,'' Hoffman said.

He also suggested the veto may be based, at least in part, on the fact that the design submitted by Turning Point USA included a picture of a smiling Kirk, with his fist raised, against the background of an American flag.

There already is one state license plate available in Arizona that has a picture of someone on it: Arizona singer and songwriter Alice Cooper — done up in his full performing makeup — who uses the proceeds to raise money for his Solid Rock Teen Centers.

And, Hoffman said, there are other kinds of pictures on state-issued licenses.

"There is a diverse amount of imagery on special plates from soldiers to dogs,'' he said, each chosen by a sponsoring organization. Hoffman said that what Turning Point wanted was "one of Charlie's most iconic images."

"Why? Because what he did every day was promote America, he was celebrating America, and he was happy God gave him the opportunity to do it," Hoffman said. 

Hobbs could soon have to act on another Kirk-related measure.

Senate Bill 1010 would rename the entire 78-mile Loop 202 around the Phoenix metro area as the "Charlie Kirk Loop 202.'' The proposal comes from Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, who said it would  ensure that "Arizonans are regularly reminded of the tremendous legacy of this champion of free speech who was assassinated for his stand.''

That measure has been approved by the Republican-controlled state Senate on a party-line vote and awaits action in the GOP-controlled House.

Hobbs declined to say Friday what she intends to do with that measure if and when it reaches her desk.

But one reason Democrats have opposed it is because a stretch of that freeway already is named for Pastor. Petersen insisted his legislation would not replace the Pastor name but simply be in addition to it.