RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Lawmakers are returning to Richmond to kick off their 2015 session and to hear Gov. Terry McAuliffe's State of the Commonwealth speech.
Entering his second term in office, Democrat McAuliffe will be seeking to make his mark on a General Assembly that's now firmly in control of Republicans following the surprise resignation of a Democratic senator last summer. He delivers his second Commonwealth address Wednesday night.
Ethics reform will be a top issue this session as lawmakers have vowed to strengthen Virginia's gift-giving rules for public officials following the conviction of former Gov. Bob McDonnell on corruption charges.
McAuliffe also wants to expand Medicaid and enact new gun control laws, proposals that have slim chances in the GOP-controlled General Assembly.
