PHOENIX - Gov. Katie Hobbs has rejected a bid by Rep. Teresa Martinez to force high schools to teach students about the "Gulf of America.''

The Casa Grande Republican acknowledged her proposal followed the directive from President Donald Trump to unilaterally rename what has been for centuries called the Gulf of Mexico and is still called that in much of the rest of the world.

She said it would promote patriotism and "start teaching pro-America to our students.''

The governor called the measure a diversion.

"This Legislature has chosen to attempt to dictate how teachers refer to geographic features,'' she wrote. "I encourage you to refocus your time and energy on solving real problems for Arizonans.''

The measure was one of 13 bills that Hobbs on Tuesday found unacceptable. That brings her tally this session up to 138 - five shy of the record the governor set in her first year in office in 2023.

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