Rep. Thomas, Ohio House Sends Long Overdue Energy Bill to Governor Which Finally Ends HB 6 OVEC Handout

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) today commented on the passage of House Bill (HB 15), a new energy bill that, amongst other provisions, will repeal OVEC fees established in the infamous HB 6 scandal .

“For years, Ohioans have paid the price of political corruption. Wednesday’s passage of HB 15 finally repeals the OVEC charges created by HB 6, despite years of inaction by the Republican supermajority. This is a win for accountability and for every Ohio family who has been footing the bill,” said Rep. Thomas.

Following former Republican House Speaker Householder’s racketeering arrest and conviction, House Democrats have introduced several pieces of legislation over multiple General Assemblies aimed at weeding out corruption, strengthening ethics, and ending the cost of corruption Ohioans are still paying for following the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio’s history. 

Ohio House and Senate Republicans and its supermajority have failed to advance any of these proposals to the governor to be signed into law or passed any reforms of its own. 

HB 15 passed the House on Wednesday, April 30th with a concurrence vote of 94-2 and will now head to Governor DeWine’s desk for his signature.