"Stunt committee hearing" on nuclear bailout bill collapses

Democratic members of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee today released a joint statement after Republicans running the committee banned questions from the elected officials in a failed effort to promote partisan legislation – House Bill 6 – designed to bailout one energy company in the state at expense to taxpayers.

“Taxpayers deserve an open and transparent legislative process, especially when they’re being asked to bailout an energy company. Instead, today, elected officials were silenced and debate was restricted in favor of a rigged process with a predetermined outcome to cast House Bill 6 in the best public light possible – no matter what the cost. We won’t take part in a political sideshow or stunt committee hearing. The people we represent expect us to ask tough questions, have honest debate and make tough decisions at their Statehouse,” the Democratic Committee Members said.

Democratic members are pushing for more debate that incorporates elements of their own Clean Energy Jobs Plan, an all-of-the-above statewide energy strategy that would save jobs at Ohio’s nuclear power facilities while reducing rates for consumers and growing jobs in emerging sectors of the economy.

Democratic members on the committee include:

Ranking Member Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati)

Assistant Democratic Leader Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus)

Energy Subcommittee Co-Chair Mike O’Brien (D-Warren)

Rep. David Leland (D-Columbus)

Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson)