Ohio House sets up vote on removing former speaker Larry Householder from office
COLUMBUS – Lawmakers in the GOP-controlled Ohio House could finally be forced to make a decision on whether former leader Larry Householder should be removed from office.
Republicans and Democrats who introduced resolutions to expel Householder say they plan to push for a vote on the measures Wednesday.
Householder, 62, of Glenford, was arrested last July in connection with the state's largest bribery scheme. Householder is accused of orchestrating a nearly $61 million operation to win control of the Ohio House, pass a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants in northern Ohio and defend that law against a ballot initiative to block it.
Householder has pleaded not guilty to the offense. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and removal from the Ohio House.
But lawmakers plan to utilize a little-used provision in the Ohio Constitution that allows lawmakers to police their own to boot Householder from the chamber. The last legislator removed in this way was Hamilton County Rep. John P. Slough in 1857 for punching another representative.
The move comes after months of inaction and Householder steadfastly refusing to resign despite the pleas of top Republicans and Democrats. Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, even made a last-minute appeal to Householder in committee Tuesday.
"Let's respect this House," Plummer said. "You could resign."
Householder again refused, saying lawmakers were playing the role of the federal judge rather than staying in their lane. In the months since his arrest, Householder has continued to draw a $67,493 taxpayer-funded salary.
In a nearly two hour hearing Tuesday, Householder fought for his political life, repeatedly asserting his innocence without going into details on the federal case against him.
A House divided
Householder's presence fractured an already divided House. Democrats blamed Republicans for protecting one of their own for months despite a damning indictment. Republicans were quick to point out that Householder would have never been elected speaker without the minority party's support.
More: 'In a league of its own': Ohio is No.1 state when it comes to public corruption, experts say
Lawmakers unanimously removed Householder as their leader shortly after his arrest, but the Republican legislator has refused to resign from his seat, which represents Perry, Coshocton and Licking counties.
Householder and his allies, most vocally Green Township Rep. Bill Seitz, have argued that the lawmaker should remain in office while the case against him is prosecuted.
Householder was reelected last fall with 71% of the vote, a fact that the Republican says demonstrates a vote of confidence in his representation. However, Householder's name was the only one listed on the ballot because his arrest came after the filing deadline. Several write-in candidates had little support and little chance of winning.
Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, says Householder's presence is a problem for the reputation of the Ohio House and the Republicans who control it.
"The real conservatives I know don’t stand for corruption," he said.
Jessie Balmert, Anna Staver and Laura Bischoff are reporters for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.