New Ohio House speaker faces a divided GOP in wake of FBI bribery probe

COLUMBUS - The GOP-controlled Ohio House of Representatives picked a new leader to replace indicted Rep. Larry Householder, but the chamber remains a house divided. 

This division comes at a time when Ohio faces a massive budget shortfall, a heated conversation over institutional racism, calls to address gun violence following the Dayton shooting and a once-in-a-century pandemic. 

Meanwhile, the Ohio House of Representatives hasn't passed a bill since June 11.

A close vote

Householder, accused of orchestrating a nearly $61 million bribery scheme, was easily ousted from the speaker's dais on July 30.

Selecting a replacement was less simple. 

Behind closed doors, House Republicans narrowly selected Speaker Bob Cupp, R-Lima, over Householder's No. 2: Rep. Jim Butler. Neither speaker hopeful received more than 30 votes and two Republican lawmakers, Ashville Rep. Ron Hood and Householder, weren't present. 

On the House floor, Cupp was elected speaker in a 55-38 vote. Every Democrat and three Republicans – Rep. Tom Brinkman of Mt. Lookout, Rep. Bill Dean of Xenia and Rep. Candice Keller of Middletown – voted against Cupp for speaker. 

House Republicans face a precarious financial situation heading into a heated November election. Millions in Householder's campaign fund and a Householder-aligned dark money group, Generation Now, likely can't be touched. Cupp ultimately sought help from the Ohio Republican Party. 

Cupp also has asked Householder's leadership team to resign from their positions, but only one – Rep. Laura Lanese, R-Grove City – has done so. Cupp pitched the change as a way to "clearly demonstrate our resolve to start anew," but current leaders aren't eager to leave their spots. 

Green Township Rep. Bill Seitz, who is the majority floor leader, was emphatic about keeping his role.

“Those who say that we should all go because we’re guilty by association with Householder are probably auditioning for the role of (Sen.) Joe McCarthy in the next Red Scare movie or perhaps auditioning for a role in the next Salem Witch Trial movie because guilt by association is no kind of standard by which to punish people who had nothing to do with any of this alleged scandal," Seitz told conservative radio host Bill Cunningham Friday. 

Speaker Seitz?

Amid the uncertainty, Seitz is considering a run for Ohio speaker in 2021, several on Capitol Square told The Enquirer. Seitz forcefully backed Butler's bid for speaker but ultimately voted for Cupp on the House floor. 

Seitz told The Enquirer that 2021 is a long way off. Republicans must still fight in tough races this November. Some lawmakers are term-limited. Others are headed to the Senate. 

"It is ridiculous. It is idle speculation to talk about what will happen in 2021," Seitz said of the next House speaker. "I haven’t made any decision in that regard whatsoever."

Seitz has been a longtime supporter of Ohio's nuclear plants, warning that the two facilities were in "substantial financial trouble" during a 2017 energy conference. By cutting fees for renewable energy and energy efficiency, House Bill 6 saved Ohio ratepayers billions, he said.  

“I was for the principles of House Bill 6 long before Mr. Householder ever came back to the House," Seitz told Cunningham.

An attempt to move forward

In the meantime, Cupp must decide if removing Seitz, Butler, Rep. Anthony Devitis and Rep. Jay Edwards from leadership is worth the effort. Cupp removed all four from the influential Rules and Reference Committee, which sets the House agenda. 

In their places, Cupp appointed Republican Reps. Niraj Antani of Miamisburg, Gary Scherer of Circleville, Phil Plummer of Dayton, and Tim Ginter of Salem. 

"This righteous indignation of those who are refusing to offer their resignation to the speaker doesn’t help as we try to unify moving forward," Scherer told The Enquirer.

Scherer said he doesn't see these divisions lasting long, especially as new lawmakers gain confidence in Cupp's leadership.

"We are on the path to righting the ship," Scherer said. 

Shortly after winning the gavel, Cupp said the key to healing divides is giving lawmakers more authority to pursue legislation that's important to them.

“Once you empower people to be able to work like that and work together, we can all move in the same direction," he said.