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Husted has taken more than $1 million from nursing home industry executives and lobbyists

COLUMBUS, OHIO — New reporting from NBC 4 Columbus reveals that Jon Husted has taken “more than a million dollars from the nursing home industry, executives, and lobbyists” after he pushed for the passage of legislation that “shielded Ohio nursing homes from liability, even in wrongful death and abuse cases.” 

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Transcript: 

Colleen Marshall, WCMH: His example is Senator Jon Husted, who years ago was a state lawmaker who co-sponsored a bill to shield Ohio nursing homes from liability, even in wrongful death and abuse cases. Since then, Husted has accepted more than a million dollars in campaign contributions from the nursing home industry, its executives, and lobbyists.

Norm Wernet, President of Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans: It is wrong to see that somebody like Senator Husted, when he was in the legislature, would co-sponsor a bill that, in fact, avoided the liability on the nursing homes. 

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Jon Husted said Ohioans’ work ethic is broken and championed legislation to slash Social Security and Medicare — and now reporting reveals he protected the abusive nursing home industry after taking more than $1 million from its lobbyists. Jon Husted sided with special interests over Ohio seniors, and he can’t be trusted.”

Jon Husted can’t be trusted to fight for Ohio seniors:

• Jon Husted protected nursing homes facing lawsuits for wrongful death and elder abuse, pushing through an industry-backed bill when he served in the state legislature. 

• Husted has taken more than $1 million from nursing home executives and lobbyists throughout his career, including more than $34,000 for his Senate campaign. 

• Husted championed legislation that would force massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare, which millions of Ohio seniors rely on. 

• Husted cast the deciding vote for the largest cut to Medicaid in history, ripping coverage from 490,000 Ohioans and putting at least eleven rural Ohio hospitals on the brink of closure.

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Columbus Dispatch: As energy prices soar, Ohio utility scandal gets new life on campaign trail

COLUMBUS, OHIO — New reporting from the Columbus Dispatch reveals that Jon Husted continues to remain at the center of the FirstEnergy bribery scheme, the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio history. 

Previous reporting has already uncovered phone calls, text messages, and secret meetings between Husted and the indicted FirstEnergy executives, and Husted was forced to testify for the defense in a state criminal trial — where he was mentioned 386 times.

The massive FirstEnergy bribery scheme that Jon Husted championed delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities and contributed to electricity costs for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year. 

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Columbus Dispatch: As energy prices soar, Ohio utility scandal gets new life on campaign trail

• As Ohioans face soaring utility costs, candidates for U.S. Senate are jockeying over who’s to blame − and Democrats hope to turn voters’ attention to the biggest corruption scandal in state history.

• Husted was a key ally for Akron-based FirstEnergy, which spent more than $60 million to aid former House Speaker Larry Householder in exchange for a nuclear bailout known as House Bill 6. The pay-to-pay scandal upended state government and sent Householder and former Ohio Republican Party chair Matt Borges to prison.

• Still, Brown and other Democrats are eager to highlight the ordeal, including Husted’s recent testimony in the trial of two former FirstEnergy executives accused of bribery.

• Husted has a decades-long history with FirstEnergy.

• Husted backed pro-utility policies during his tenure as Ohio House speaker. When he ran for governor in 2017, FirstEnergy gave $1 million through a dark money group to support his bid. The utility spent another $2.5 million to help the DeWine campaign after Husted dropped out and became DeWine’s running mate.

• Husted’s relationship with FirstEnergy got renewed attention earlier this year when he testified in the trial of former CEO Chuck Jones and ex-lobbyist Michael Dowling.

• The former executives are accused of bribing Ohio’s former top utility regulator, Sam Randazzo. A Summit County jury couldn’t reach a verdict during their first trial, but Jones and Dowling were indicted again and face another trial in January 2027.

• During a March hearing, Husted fielded questions about DeWine’s decision to appoint Randazzo and a December 2018 dinner he attended with DeWine, Jones and Dowling. Prosecutors contend Jones and Dowling urged DeWine to pick Randazzo during that meeting and paid Randazzo a $4.3 million bribe shortly after. Husted said he couldn’t recall specifics.

• “Jon Husted was at the center of this,” [Senator Sherrod] Brown told the statehouse bureau. “Of course he’ll make excuses.”

• House Bill 6 imposed monthly fees on utility customers to raise money for FirstEnergy’s nuclear plants, along with solar projects and coal plants in Ohio and Indiana. It also slashed renewable energy mandates and energy efficiency incentives.

• Ohioans paid an average of $188.84 for electricity in July, according to PUCO, up from $168.98 the year prior. That amount was $114.90 in July 2019, months before House Bill 6 took effect. The biggest jump occurred between 2022 and 2023, when electric bills spiked 30%.

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SIGNAL OHIO: ‘An average Ohioan’s July electric bill will be 12% higher than 2025 and 62% higher than 2015, new cost data show.’

COLUMBUS, OHIO — New reporting shows that electric bills will “likely hit record highs for millions of Ohioans when July bills go out this month” — thanks to Jon Husted. 

Jon Husted’s policies have sent electric rates soaring for Ohioans:

• Husted has been called “the face of data centers” and led the charge to hand out billions in tax breaks to attract them to Ohio.

• Now, Husted is blaming hardworking Ohioans for utility rate increases caused by the record number of data centers that he brought to the state.

• Husted played a key role in the FirstEnergy bribery scheme, the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio that delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities. 

• Husted’s corruption involving the FirstEnergy scandal has contributed to electricity costs for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Jon Husted’s policies have sent electricity rates soaring for families across our state, but he’d rather blame hardworking Ohioans themselves and lecture them to work even harder. Jon Husted could not be more out of touch with the people of Ohio, and they will hold him accountable in November.” 

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Signal Ohio: Electric bills hit new highs across Ohio, state data shows

• Electric bills will likely hit record highs for millions of Ohioans when July bills go out this month, driven by rising rates, new systemic demand and a heat dome that lingered over much of the Midwest. 

• New data from the Ohio Utility Rate Survey – a state publication based on cost data from utilities – shows the electric bill for a residential electric customer using an average amount of power hit record levels in Cleveland ($189), Dayton ($188) and Akron ($184) in July. 

• It’s not much better elsewhere. Columbus’ July ($198.53) is $1 from the high watermark in May 2024. Toledo ($175) was about $6 off from its June 2023 record. Cincinnati’s July bill ($171) is just $1 short of the local record set last June.

• On a statewide basis, that means July bills are 12% higher than last year and a whopping 62% higher than they were a decade ago.

• A development boom for data centers, the energy-intensive megafacilities serving the artificial intelligence sector, adds to that demand systemically.

• For a Columbus household, in American Electric Power Ohio’s service territory, 900 kilowatt-hours in July 2016 cost $118. Today, that’s about $199. That’s a difference of $81 more for the month. The 10-year spike is similarly seen across the state.

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NEW REPORT: Electric bills hit new highs across Ohio, state data shows

IRONTON, OHIO — This week, Ohioans in Ironton called out Jon Husted for his record of jacking up energy rates in Ohio — just as a new report showed electric bills have hit new highs across the state.

Jon Husted played a key role in the FirstEnergy bribery scheme, the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio that delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities. Husted’s corruption involving the FirstEnergy scandal has contributed to electricity costs for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

Husted has also now voted thirteen times to support the expensive and unnecessary war in Iran that has sent gas prices soaring. Gas prices in Ohio have surged again, and national prices have reached an average of $4 a gallon after continued attacks in Iran. 

See For Yourself: 

WOWK: Ohio leaders and residents voice concerns over rising energy costs

• Khristian Kluever, WOWK: Community leaders and residents gathered in Ironton on Monday to voice concerns about rising electric and natural gas costs, saying higher utility bills are placing added financial pressure on Ohio families.

• Troy Scott, Ironton City Councilman: It’s really hurting so many people… everyday I’m talking to people across town who can’t necessarily afford their electric bills… who are trying to figure out what to do about the rising costs across the state. And, we continually have elected officials like Jon Husted who are not putting Ohioans first when it comes to that.

WCHS: Ohio Democrats bring energy cost message to Ironton rally

• Bethany Jarrell, WCHS: Speakers at Monday’s rally also referenced communications and meetings between Husted and FirstEnergy executives that became public during later court proceedings, arguing those interactions should be considered by voters.

• Sam Cramblitt, Ironton Mayor: I think for a group of individuals that promised America First should probably deliver America First and Ohio First. I think it’s time for us to select our leaders based on policies that put Ohio first.

• Jarrell: Organizers also criticized Husted over campaign contributions from political action committees associated with Chevron and ExxonMobil and over votes related to U.S. involvement in Iran, arguing those decisions have contributed to higher energy costs. Those claims reflect the position of the Ohio Democratic Party.

• Cramblitt: I would like people to hold their elected officials responsible for the policies they make that directly impact our daily lives.

Ironton Tribune: City officials criticize Husted on energy

• Ironton Mayor Sam Cramblit II and city council member Troy Scott spoke on Monday about rising energy and fuel costs for Ohioans and city residents, something they said was being exacerbated by policies of U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio.

• “We’re here today because Ohio families are getting crushed by skyrocketing energy bills and soaring gas prices,” Cramblit said. “Energy costs across the United States continue to rise due to a combination of structural grid challenges, growing electricity demand, fuel-market volatility and policy- driven changes in generation.”

• He said this issue hits Ohioans hard, combined with rising fuel costs.

• “And today’s fuel price volatility can be directly attributed to the war in Iran which our senator. John Husted, has voted in favor for 13 times,” Cramblit said. “It is time we select leaders that put Americans and Ohioans first and stop allowing foreign interests and multi-billion dollar corporate utility companies to dictate policies that put the cost on the backs of taxpayers.”

• Cramblit was joined at the press conference by Ironton City Council member Troy Scott.

• Scott said Chevron reported $12 billion in profit the last quarter, a 400 percent increase from this time last year, while ExonMobil reported $14.5 billion for the quarter, double from last year.

• “Both of these corporations who are bleeding us dry have donated the maximum amount to Jon Husted’s campaign,” he said.

• Ironton resident Robert McCollister was among those speaking on Monday.

• McCollister said Husted was responsible for one of the worst energy bills passed, which he said has cost Ohioans an extra $55 a month.

• McCollister said gas is “well above $4 a gallon” in Ironton, and said increased fuel costs “translate to higher prices” on goods such as food and clothing.

• “The only people who are benefitting are the big oil companies, who are seeing record profits,” he said. “So who is Jon Husted really working for?”

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IRONTON, OHIO — This week, Ohioans in Ironton called out Jon Husted for his record of jacking up energy rates across the state. 

Jon Husted played a key role in the FirstEnergy bribery scheme, the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio that delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities. Husted’s corruption involving the FirstEnergy scandal has contributed to electricity costs for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

Husted has also now voted thirteen times to support the expensive and unnecessary war in Iran that has sent gas prices soaring. Gas prices in Ohio have surged again, and national prices have reached an average of $4 a gallon after continued attacks in Iran. 

“We’re here today because Ohio families are getting crushed by skyrocketing energy bills and soaring gas prices. Today’s fuel price volatility could be directly attributed to the war with Iran, in which our Senator Jon Husted has voted for 13 times. I think it’s time that we select leaders that put Americans and Ohioans first,” said Ironton Mayor Sam Cramblit. 

“We have an ongoing war in Iran that our senators, including Jon Husted, have voted in favor of 13 times, at the cost of his own citizens. While we’re all paying these outrageous prices at the pump, major companies like Chevron announced $12 billion in profit last quarter, an over 400% increase from this time last year,” said Ironton Councilman Troy Scott. “Exxon Mobil has profited over $14.5 billion last quarter, doubling last year’s marks. Both these corporations, who are bleeding us dry, have donated the maximum amount to Jon Husted’s campaign. So I’ll leave you with the question: Is Husted really working for us, for you and me?”

“Jon Husted was deeply involved in the passage of HB 6, which is universally regarded as the worst energy bill passed by any legislature in the 21st century, and it was made possible by a $60 million bribery scheme,” said Bob McCollister, an Ironton resident. “In the time since the bill passed, the average Ohioan’s electric bill has gone up $663 a year — that’s $55 a month. Now, $55 a month may not be a lot for Jon Husted or those corporate lobbyists in Washington and Columbus, but for the average Buckeye, $55 a month is a lot of money.” 

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