RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia House of Delegates has defeated legislation aimed at facilitating executions by lethal injection. 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. Supporters of the bill said it’s necessary because the state is running out of the drugs and their European manufacturers are refusing to allow them to be used in executions. Most controversial was a provision allowing the state to keep secret the identities of those who manufacture and supply the drugs and 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.
