House Bill 6
Economists pan Ohio coal subsidies
Coal subsidies passed in 2019 as part of a historically corrupt energy law are of no help to the state’s economy, the vast majority of a panel of academic economists said in a survey that was released Monday. Of the 22 economists responding, 21 disagreed with the proposition that “subsidies for coal plants paid for […]
Long-time DeWine friend lobbied for corporation accused of fraud
Many Ohioans were scratching their heads earlier this month. The administration of Gov. Mike DeWine had just restarted a massive contract with Centene Corp. Only six months earlier, Attorney General Dave Yost agreed to accept $88.3 million from the company to settle claims that it had defrauded the state’s Medicaid program of tens of millions […]
After scandal broke, FirstEnergy lobbyist pushed DeWine on “covid response”
On Sept. 23, 2020, McKenzie K. Davis, a lobbyist with the Success Group, registered to lobby the administration of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on “covid response.” The timing is curious because only six weeks earlier, federal authorities announced they’d arrested then-Speaker Larry Householder and four associates in what they said was “likely the largest bribery […]
Ohio Democrats focusing HB 6 scandal attention on Gov. DeWine
In the year after the House Bill 6 scandal first broke in July 2020, much of the focus was on state Rep. Larry Householder. Householder has since been booted from the legislature and awaits trial. Attention is shifting further toward Gov. Mike DeWine as the investigation continues to develop. The governor has not been accused […]
Householder alleged to have promoted FirstEnergy interests during Trump roundtable
Facing serious financial trouble and pushing for a federal bailout, the FirstEnergy Corporation saw opportunity in August 2018 when President Donald Trump announced a trip to Ohio. The Akron-based company wanted someone to make the case to Trump in person, so it turned to a reliable political ally: Larry Householder. The Perry County Republican’s alleged […]
‘Anti-Corruption Act’ would target dark money spending in Ohio
Should nonprofit organizations that spend money on Ohio elections be forced to publicly disclose who funds them? Some lawmakers say yes and are trying once again to change the state’s campaign finance law in an effort to make political spending more transparent. State Reps. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, and Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Cleveland, have reintroduced […]
Three Ohio energy giants haven’t paid federal income taxes in three years
They're making billions and they've gotten hefty subsidies from ratepayers. Yet three big energy companies doing business in Ohio haven't paid federal income tax since the 2017 Trump tax cuts, according to a new report.
Bill seeks to end ‘dark money’ spending in Ohio elections
Republican lawmakers are proposing to revamp some of Ohio’s campaign finance laws that would shine a light on “dark money” groups. Public officials from both parties have called for reforms in the wake of the House Bill 6 scandal, which saw the speaker of the Ohio House arrested as well as widespread attention paid to […]
After financing xenophobic campaign, FirstEnergy deplores anti-Asian bigotry
There has been a terrifying surge in violence against Asians over the past year, prompting one Ohio company to take a stand on an issue it was arguably on the other side of in 2019. Meanwhile, Ohio’s lieutenant governor is digging in over comments he made last week. There has been a drumbeat of random […]
Lack of sunshine in political money fuels corruption. Here’s proof
A historic nuclear bailout scandal in Ohio has already led to six indictments — including that of a House speaker — three guilty pleas and, unfortunately, one death. Still more indictments are possible next month when a federal grand jury is expected to again take up the matter. The whole sorry episode illustrates the desperate […]
Bill would force Householder, if convicted, to repay state salary
House Democrats introduced legislation Monday that would force GOP Rep. Larry Householder, currently under indictment in an alleged $61 million bribery scheme, to repay his salary if he’s convicted at trial. Reps. Jeffrey Crossman, D-Parma, and Michele Lepore-Hagan, D-Youngstown, said in a news release the legislation isn’t specifically directed at Householder, but state lawmakers generally […]
Critics take aim at HB 6 coal subsidies
A 2019 energy bill at the heart of a historic Ohio scandal has plenty of critics and it contains plenty of provisions of which they’re critical. There’s more than $1 billion to prop up two nuclear reactors that supposedly can’t compete on their own. And there’s $102 million in annual revenue guarantees for FirstEnergy, a […]