Lawmakers return to take up death penalty, ethics law

Virginia lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol this week to debate how the state should put inmates to death, how it should structure a new economic development initiative, and whether the Old Dominion should tweak its new ethics laws.

Wednesday is the so-called veto session, where legislators return to Richmond for a day to consider Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s vetoes and amendments to legislation passed earlier this year.

Among the most watch moves by the Democratic governor is his proposal to shield the identities of companies that supply lethal-injection drugs for executions. Virginia has struggled to obtain the drugs necessary for lethal injections and the GOP-controlled General Assembly passed legislation earlier this year that would force inmates to die in the electric chair if there are no available drugs.

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