Can Larry Householder be forced from office?

Credit: Sarah Franks

Speaker Larry Householder hasn’t responded to the growing calls for him to resign, raising the question of if his fellow lawmakers will force him out of office.

Political leaders, including Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken, have called for Householder to step aside.

A slew of House Republicans joined House Democrats in calling for Householder to step down as speaker.

Householder was charged with conspiracy to participate in a racketeering scheme and was released on bond after appearing in federal court Tuesday. Householder’s attorney, Dave Thomas, declined to comment on Wednesday.

Here is a quick rundown of what would need to happen to strip Householder of his leadership post and what is the procedure to expel him from the Ohio House.

First, the House needs to hold a session.

  • It’s up to the speaker to call or schedule a session. If he or she is absent, the No. 2 leader — currently Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Butler, R-Oakwood — may call a session. Also, Gov. Mike DeWine can call the Legislature into session for a stated purpose, under the constitution.
  • DeWine has stated Householder should step down as speaker. He said Wednesday that the House should handle Householder’s removal. But if the governor needs to call a special session of the General Assembly, “I certainly would not hesitate to do that at all.”
  • Another way is if at least 50 House members show up for what’s typically called a non-voting session. That quorum can force a full session, according to House rules.

What does it take to remove the speaker from legislative leadership?

  • A simple majority vote — at least 50 votes — is needed to remove someone from a leadership job, such as speaker.

Speaker of the House Larry Householder

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What does it take to expel someone from the Ohio House?

  • Two-thirds vote — 66 votes — is required, according to the state constitution. Removal is automatic upon conviction of a felony, according to state law.

So what’s likely to happen?

  • It’s unclear at this point. The 39-member Democratic caucus led by Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, have called for Householder to resign as speaker. At least eight House Republicans have joined that call, including state Rep. Laura Lanese, R-Grove City, who is member of Householder’s legislative leadership team, and state Rep. Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek.

“Ohioans deserve leaders they can trust,” she said.

“While Speaker Householder has rights afforded to him, including the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law, the conditions set in the arraignment hearing preclude the Speaker from acting in his official capacity,” Perales said on Twitter.

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