RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Republican leaders of the Virginia General Assembly are calling on Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe to convene a special legislative session to discuss the governor’s recent restoration of voting and other civil rights to more than 200,000 convicted felons. House Speaker William J. Howell and Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. sent a letter to McAuliffe Tuesday requesting a special session. The GOP leaders said McAuliffe’s actions last week to restore certain civil rights to convicted felons was a “matter of great consequence” to Virginians that deserves a thorough debate. McAuliffe issued a sweeping order last week restoring the rights of 206,000 felons to vote, saying the move would help undo Virginia’s long history of trying to suppress the black vote.
