CLEVELAND, Ohio – Republican Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Larry Householder built a political machine to approve a taxpayer-funded nuclear power plant subsidy, according to the Justice Department affidavit The United States filed a criminal complaint Tuesday against him and four other people.
The federal government now says the passage of House Bill 6 was a corrupt deal, fueled by $ 60 million in bribes for the Head of the Family that he distributed in the form of campaign contributions and dark money to ensure that First Energy will receive your love treatment.
But Householder was unable to approve the nuclear subsidy with only the support of the Republican Party. Ten Democrats in the House of Representatives backed the controversial bill, which provides a $ 1 billion bailout to the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear power plants in the form of a surcharge on Ohio’s energy bills. Two later they changed their minds during a final turnout vote with the Senate.
Here are the 10 House Democrats who voted for the nuclear power rescue.
Terrence Upchurch
Ohio State Representative Terrence Upchurch, a Cleveland Democrat.
Terrence Upchurch is a 31-year-old first-year legislator from Cleveland. His biography of the Ohio House of Representatives says he previously worked as a special assistant to the Cleveland City Council and spent a season with Cuyahoga County Councilman Anthony Hairston.
He won a crowded primary field in 2018 before being elected without opposition in the general election.
Upchurch voted Householder for Speaker in 2019. FirstEnergy’s political action committee gave Upchurch $ 1,000 in 2018 and $ 2,500 in 2019.
John M. Rogers
Ohio State Representative John Rogers, a Democrat Mentor on the Lake
John M. Rogers of Mentor-on-the-Lake has served in the House since 2013. Prior to his election to that position, his political career dates back to 1989 when he was appointed to the Mentor-on-the City Council. -Lake. and he was appointed mayor in 1994, occupying that position until 2012.
His district includes the Perry Nuclear Plant. During the HB6 debate, Rogers said he supported the job saving measure in Lake County.
Rogers did not vote for Householder Speaker in 2019. FirstEnergy’s PAC gave Rogers a total of $ 850 in 2017 and 2018.
To update: Following the publication of this article, Rogers said in an email that his campaign donated $ 1,000 to the Lake County HEAP Lifeline, Inc. fund, an energy assistance program, to offset FirstEnergy’s campaign contributions.
Joe Miller
Ohio State Representative Joe Miller, an Amherst Democrat
Joe Miller is a former Amherst city councilman and professor of social studies at Firelands High School, who was first elected to the House in 2018.
Miller voted for the opening passage of HB6. It is not listed for your final passage.
Miller did not vote for House speaker as speaker. The FirstEnergy PAC has not given Miller any campaign contributions.
Tavia Galonski
Ohio State Representative Tavia Galonski, an Akron Democrat
Tavia Galonski is a former judge of the Summit County Common Pleas Court in Akron. She was first elected to the legislature in 2016.
Galonski was part of the Democrats coalition that helped elect Householder as a speaker and ousted former minority leader Fred Strahorn in 2019.
She served as senior advisor to the Ohio presidential campaign for former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden earlier this year.
FirstEnergy’s PAC gave Galonski $ 1,500 in 2018, $ 500 in 2019, and $ 2,000 this year.
John Patterson
Ohio State Representative John Patterson, Ashtabula County Democrat
Ashtabula County John Patterson was first elected to the Ohio House in 2012, beating Republican Rep. Casey Kozlowski. Before running for office, he taught history at Jefferson Area High School for 29 years.
Patterson has been heavily involved in efforts to overhaul the state’s education financing system, working alongside state representative Robert Cupp, a Republican from Lima.
Patterson did not vote for Householder as a speaker in 2019. FirstEnergy’s PAC gave Patterson $ 500 in 2018.
Richard Brown
Ohio State Representative Richard Brown, a Winchester Canal Democrat
Richard Brown of Canal Winchester has served in the Ohio House since 2017. He was appointed to replace State Representative Heather Bishoff, a Democrat who left office to move to California. Brown was chosen for his first full term in 2018.
Brown voted in favor of HB6 when it initially passed the House in May, although it changed to “no” during the concurrent vote with the Senate. Brown said his constituents were “disappointed” with his initial vote, prompting him to change his mind.
Brown voted Householder as a speaker in 2019. The FirstEnergy PAC has not given Brown any campaign contributions.
Jack wax
Ohio State Representative Jack Cera, a Bellaire Democrat (Ohio House of Representatives)
Bellaire’s Jack Cera has served two terms at the Ohio House, the first from 1983 to 1996, when he was forced to leave office due to recently implemented term limits. Cera was appointed to his current position in 2011 after former state representative Lou Gentile left the state Senate. Cera is a member of a minority party on the State Board of Control, which oversees state spending.
As one of the few remaining Appalachian Democrats elected to office in the state, Cera has been friendly to coal interests, who were also the beneficiaries of HB6 in eliminating other renewable energy projects. Cera was also a member of the legislative panel tasked with developing a solution for gerrymandering.
Cera voted for Householder as a speaker in 2019. FirstEnergy’s PAC gave Cera $ 1,000 in 2018 and $ 2,500 in 2020.
Catherine Ingram
Ohio State Representative Catherine Ingram, Democrat from Cincinnati
Catherine Ingram first joined the Ohio Chamber in 2017. Before being elected to the Chamber, Ingram served on the Cincinnati Board of Education, including terms as president and vice president.
Ingram did not vote for the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2019. The FirstEnergy PAC has not given him any campaign contributions.
Lisa Sobecki
Ohio State Representative Lisa Sobecki, a Democrat from Toledo
Lisa Sobecki is a first-time legislator who previously worked on the Toledo Board of Education. A Navy veteran, Sobecki made national headlines when she shared that she was the victim of sexual assault during a speech on the floor opposing the “heartbeat” bill, which would make most abortions in the state illegal. The bill is being challenged in court.
Sobecki voted Householder for Speaker in 2019. FirstEnergy’s PAC gave Sobecki $ 1,500 in 2020.
Thomas west
Ohio State Representative Thomas West, a canton Democrat
Canton’s Thomas West first joined the Ohio House in 2017 after winning a contested Democratic primary against Joyce Healy Abrams. Before joining the Chamber, he was a member of the Canton City Council for 13 years.
West voted Householder for Speaker in 2019. FirstEnergy’s PAC gave West $ 1,500 in 2018 and $ 2,500 in 2019.
This publication has been updated with clarifications on the final vote.
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