No House Republican vote on expelling Householder yet
COLUMBUS – After a three-hour meeting Tuesday, House Republicans decided not to immediately remove former leader Rep. Larry Householder, but deliberations continue.
Householder, of Glenford, is accused of racketeering in connection with a nearly $61 million bribery scheme to elect him to lead the Ohio House, pass a $1 billion nuclear ballot and defend that law against a ballot initiative to block it. He has pleaded not guilty.
House Republicans met for the first time as a group Tuesday to discuss whether Householder should be removed. The expulsion process, spelled out in the Ohio Constitution, requires 66 lawmakers to “punish its members for disorderly conduct.”
The Ohio House comprises 35 Democrats and 64 Republicans, though it’s unlikely Householder would vote to remove himself. That means Republicans need at least three Democrats to support expelling Householder but can likely count on many more.
House Republicans hold a variety of views on removing Householder, ranging from vehemently supporting expulsion to wanting to keep him in the chamber. Householder himself has said removing him would be “unprecedented” and “subvert the will of 31,000 local citizens” who elected him in November.
Those disparate views played out in Tuesday’s meeting, which Green Township Rep. Bill Seitz called a “very civil and spirited discussion.” Householder attended.
House Republicans didn’t plan to vote to remove Householder Wednesday, but the option is still on the table, said GOP lawmakers involved in the discussions.
Democrats could try to force a vote on the House floor once again, but it will not pass without Republican support. On Monday, Reps. Jeff Crossman, Dparma, and Michele Lepore-hagan, Dyoungstown, introduced a bill that would require lawmakers to reimburse the state for money they received in between an indictment and felony conviction for public corruption.
A spokeswoman for Speaker Bob Cupp did not respond to questions Wednesday morning about next steps.