Spartan Echo

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia House of Delegates has defeated legislation that would allow companies providing drugs for lethal-injection executions to keep their identities and the drugs’ components secret.

Supporters said the provision was necessary because the state is running out of drugs and many manufacturers don’t want to be associated with their production.

The measure had been requested by the administration of Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. It would have allowed the state to enter into contracts with compounding pharmacies to acquire the three-drug combination used in the process. It also would have permitted the pharmacies to remain anonymous and to keep under wraps the names of the components used in the compounding process.

The bill, which passed the Senate earlier this month, was rejected Tuesday by a bipartisan House majority, 56-42.

Del. David Albo, a Fairfax County Republican, said the secrecy provisions were necessary because the companies that supply the drugs fear public condemnation. “No one’s going to make the drugs if their name is out there, because then they’re going to get picketed,” he said.

Critics were unconvinced.

“I certainly cannot support putting this public act under a veil of secrecy,” said Del. Charniele Herring, an Alexandria Democrat.

Among those voting against the bill were supporters of capital punishment such as Del. Rick Morris, an Isle of Wight County Republican. “I do not believe this is about the issue of the death penalty,” he said. “To me this is an issue of open and transparent government.”

Critics of the bill also called it premature because there are legal cases involving lethal injection pending before both the U.S. and Virginia supreme courts.

Condemned prisoners in Virginia are allowed to choose between the electric chair and lethal injection. Most choose injection.

It does not appear, however, that the bill’s failure will hold up any executions. There are eight inmates on Virginia’s death row, but no executions are scheduled.