Bill to restore felons' rights to expire
POSTED: 6:44 AM Feb 12 2013
UPDATED: 5:50 PM Feb 12 2013
Virginia lawmakers have killed a bill that would have automatically restored the civil rights of nonviolent felons.
It was proposed constitutional amendment that died in a House subcommittee Monday.
Even though it's an historically Democrat-backed idea, Republican Governor Bob McDonnell was pushing for the measure, which had passed the Senate.
In his State of the Commonwealth address, he called it "common sense reform" to restore their rights to vote and serve on a jury.
Currently, only the governor can restore felons' rights.
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