Members of the Ohio House are preparing to pick a new Speaker for the second time in a little over two years, as they consider how to replace current leader Larry Householder, who’s facing a racketeering charge related to the nuclear bailout law he pushed. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
In June 2018, it took 2 and a half hours and 11 rounds of voting to elect a speaker to replace Cliff Rosenberger, who resigned two months earlier and voting on legislation in the House was shut down.
It’ll be the same process this time – a candidate would need to win a simple majority, 50 votes from 99 members. And the House can hold this vote whether Householder resigns or not.
Representatives Bob Cupp, Rick Carfagna, Craig Riedel and Tim Ginter are interested in taking the gavel – all of them are seeking re-election. Speaker Pro Tem Jim Butler, who had tried to beat Rosenberger in 2014, is term limited at the end of this year. A temporary speaker could set up a months-long battle like the one in which Householder ousted Smith last year.