For the first time since before the Civil War, the Ohio House has expelled one of its members. On a 75-21 vote, the chamber stripped Rep. Larry Householder (R-Glenford) of his office for “disorderly conduct” amid his ongoing criminal case tied to Ohio’s scandal-ridden 2019 energy law, House Bill 6. (The OMA led the opposition to HB 6 upon its introduction in 2019.) The former speaker was arrested last summer along with his political strategist Jeff Longstreth and three lobbyists — accused of accepting $61 million from FirstEnergy through a dark money group to help ensure enactment of HB 6. The law authorized customer-funded subsidies for FirstEnergy’s nuclear generation assets, OVEC-owned coal plants, and more. Householder has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and this week — prior to the House vote — declared his innocence in front of the House Rules & Reference Committee. 6/16/2021