HB 6 Archives - Tennessee Star

Another Guilty Plea Entered in Ohio House Bill 6 Corruption Scandal

February 11, 2021February 10, 2021 The Center Square

A nonprofit organization has become the latest to enter a guilty plea in a $60 million bribery and racketeering scheme involving Ohio’s taxpayer-funded energy company bailout and the former speaker of the House.

Generation Now pleaded guilty in federal court, admitting it was used to funnel millions of dollars in bribes from a utility company to former Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, in relation to the passage of House Bill 6. In the plea agreement, Generation Now allowed the government to take nearly $1.5 million from two bank accounts and received five years of probation.

Ohio A.G. Yost Takes Aim at Another Provision of House Bill 6, Potential Energy Rate Hikes

January 18, 2021January 17, 2021 The Center Square

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost took another swing Thursday at stopping provisions from controversial nuclear bailout House Bill 6 from impacting the state’s energy customers.

Late last year, Yost sued to stop ratepayer fees from being implemented that would have provided $150 million in money to Energy Harbor. Thursday, he filed a motion to stop FirstEnergy from executing another rate hike allowed in the legislation.

Ohio Attorney General Files Another Lawsuit to Stop Nuclear Bailout Fees

November 18, 2020November 17, 2020 The Center Square

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost took another shot at trying to stop new consumer fees from the state’s controversial energy company bailout bill.

Yost recently filed a second lawsuit to block the annual collection of $150 million from additional customer fees from going to Energy Harbor, what he called the successor to FirstEnergy’s nuclear plants.

Commentary: Competitive Electricity Markets Is the Answer to the HB-6 Debacle

October 3, 2020October 2, 2020 Admin

Last month’s indictment of now former Ohio Speaker Larry Householder, which brought to light a $60 million bribery scheme, has rocked Columbus and thrown our state’s politics into disarray. Ostensibly undertaken to enact H.B. 6, the sweeping energy policy bill known as the Ohio Clean Air Program, the legislation has proven to be little more than a handout for special interestscourtesy of average citizens.

Ohio AG Believes Nuclear Companies to Testify Publicly

October 3, 2020October 2, 2020 Admin

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost wants the companies at the center of the House Bill 6 controversy to open their books and appear before a committee established to decide whether to repeal the law.

Yost said FirstEnergy and Energy Harbor are profitable and should answer questions before the House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight. In a letter to the committee, he responded to concerns that a lawsuit he recently filed prevents the companies from testifying.

State Watchdog Seeks Probe of Utility Tied to Bribery Scheme

September 10, 2020September 9, 2020 The Associated Press

Ohio’s consumer watchdog has asked a regulatory agency to conduct an independent investigation of the state’s largest electric utility, FirstEnergy Corp., that federal authorities have tied to a $60 million bribery scheme involving one of Ohio’s most powerful politicians.

The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel in a motion filed late Tuesday with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has asked that outside investigators examine whether money collected from consumers “was improperly used for any activities in connection with HB6 instead of for electric utility service.”

Ohio Lawmakers Demand Action on Nuclear Bailout Bill Amid Corruption Scandal

August 30, 2020August 29, 2020 Admin

Democrats want lawmakers to take action on House Bill 6, a ratepayer-funded bailout of nuclear power plants in Ohio, when the state House convenes next week, but one Republican says any replacement must prioritize nuclear energy.

The bill faces new scrutiny after a federal grand jury indicted former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, and four others as part of a $60 million “public corruption racketeering conspiracy” to pass the legislation.

Ohio House Democrats Introduce Bill Aimed at Repealing House Bill 6

August 2, 2020August 1, 2020 Ben Kolodny

Ohio House Democrats introduced a new bill this week that would repeal House Bill (HB) 6, which bailed out nuclear power plants in the state. HB 6 was at the heart of the $60 million corruption scandal that led to state Rep. Larry Householder (R-Glenford) being stripped of his House speakership position.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) arrested Householder and four other people on July 21 for allegedly having “worked to corruptly ensure that HB 6 went into effect by defeating a ballot initiative to overturn the legislation,” according to the DOJ press release.

Ohio House of Representatives Elect Bob Cupp as New Speaker of the House

August 1, 2020July 31, 2020 Ben Kolodny

Rep. Bob Cupp (R-Lima) has been selected to replace Larry Householder (R-Glenford) as Ohio’s new Speaker of the House.

After being charged with participating in a $60 million corruption scandal, Householder was removed in a 90-0 vote. Householder, who is accused of being part of a “racketeering conspiracy involving a 2019 nuclear power plant bailout bill” faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

‘Stain on the House’: Ohio Reps Oust GOP Speaker Amid Probe

July 31, 2020July 30, 2020 The Associated Press

In a historic, unanimous and bipartisan vote Thursday, the Ohio House ousted its Republican speaker as the chamber’s top leader following his indictment in an alleged $60 million bribery scheme.

Rep. Larry Householder is the first Ohio House speaker ever removed by the chamber, according to the Ohio History Connection. His nametag was unscrewed from the speaker’s dais shortly after the vote, but he still retains his seat in the GOP-led Legislature.

Commentary: Unions Delivered Democrat Votes for Householder to be Speaker – SB 4 Is Part of the Payback

July 30, 2020July 29, 2020 Admin

Without Ohio House Democrats, pressured by labor unions and encouraged by “dark money,” Larry Householder would not be Speaker. The media reported this from the beginning.

“Labor unions urge Ohio House Democrats to back Republican Larry Householder for speaker,” headlined the Cleveland Plain Dealer on December 12, 2018.

Ohioans Against Corporate Bailout Will No Longer Attempt to Overturn House Bill 6

January 24, 2020January 23, 2020 Zachery Schmidt

Ohioans Against Corporate Bailout (OACB) announced this week it has stopped its efforts of repealing House Bill 6, a piece of legislation that bailed out Ohio’s two nuclear power plants.