House Speaker on Supreme Court order in Howell v. McAuliffe

Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell issued the following statement Thursday on the Supreme Court’s order in Howell v. McAuliffe.

“We are disappointed by today’s news but respect the Supreme Court’s order. Throughout this process, our goal was to hold Governor McAuliffe accountable to the Constitution and the Rule of Law. The governor stretched the bounds of the Virginia Constitution and sought to expand executive power in a manner we viewed as inappropriate and reckless. The Supreme Court strongly rebuked the governor’s executive overreach in the original case.

“The General Assembly must now review the Constitution’s provision governing felon voting. The current provisions of the constitution are vague, vulnerable to executive overreach, and insufficiently transparent. Several proposals have already emerged and we expect others to come forward. I have asked a number of House members to begin evaluating these proposals as we move toward next session and expect a robust discussion when the General Assembly convenes.”