There still are no voting sessions scheduled in the Ohio House because majority Republicans haven’t decided on who will lead the chamber through the end of this year. Backers of the representative with the most support so far are calling for a vote now.
Eleven Republicans who back Rep. Ryan Smith’s effort to take over for former Speaker Cliff Rosenberger through the end of this year say it’s time for the full caucus to vote.
Rep. Craig Reidel says Smith was just three votes shy of getting the 50 needed to be elected speaker.
“So he has the vast, vast support of the majority of the House Republican party,” he said.
Reidel and the other representatives who delivered this message to reporters would not answer questions, including whether a deal is being struck behind closed doors between Speaker Pro Tem Kirk Schuring and former Speaker Larry Householder, who wants the speakership in January.
Democratic Rep. David Leland wants to know why they wouldn’t answer questions. And he says it’s up to Republicans to come together to solve this problem.
“They are in charge. They have almost two-thirds of the vote in the House. They are the ones who are making the rules,” he said.
Leland says he wants to make sure any solution to the fight over the speakership would not sweep possible wrongdoing by Rosenberger under the rug. Rosenberger, resigned in April after saying he hasn’t done anything illegal but hired an attorney because the FBI was interested in his activities involving lobbyists.
