COLUMBUS- Governor Mike DeWine used words like “disgusting” and “sickening” to describe the scandal swirling around House Speaker Larry Householder and believes Householder should resign or be removed, but does not support a repeal of the nuclear bailout law at the center of the bribery scheme that led to the arrests of Householder and four others.
(Ofc. of Gov. Mike DeWine/Vivien McClain Photography)
“Because people did bad things does not mean that the policy is not a good policy,” he said during coronavirus briefing Wednesday afternoon at the Statehouse a day after Householder (R-Glenford) and the others were arrested on federal racketeering charges.
DeWine says the state needs the non-carbon producing energy provided by the state’s two nuclear power plants and says he’s also concerned about the jobs that would be lost if the plants closed.
Lawmakers from both parties were preparing legislation that would repeal the law, which DeWine signed in 2019.
DeWine said Wednesday it was obvious a lot of money was being spent supporting the bailout but no indications of anything illegal.
Householder and four associates were arrested Tuesday in a $60 million federal bribery case connected to the taxpayer-funded bailout and DeWine was among the first to call for his fellow Republican to step down.
The House has the power to remove Householder as speaker but DeWine vowed, if members didn’t act quickly, he would call them back into session to do the job.
“If it’s necessary for us to call the legislature into session, on a specific topic, which would be the speakership, I certainly would not hesitate to do that at all,” DeWine said.
The federal charges claim that Householder and the others funneled money from an Akron-based energy company through a non-profit organization in exchange for making sure the bill passed and that a repeal effort was defeated.