YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – A local state lawmaker says it’s time Ohio’s residents stop having to pay for their utility companies to spend money on political issues.

Representative Lauren McNally, of Youngstown, introduced a bill this week that would ban privately-held utilities, such as First Energy, from using money from customers to pay for political activities such as lobbying or making campaign contributions.

The measure comes in the wake of convictions against several state officials who pushed for the bailout of First Energy after they received political contributions.

“What is the Ohio legislature going to do to right the wrong that happened? The wrong that has been deemed the largest scandal to ever happen in the state of Ohio and on that has caused other states to look at their own laws,” McNally said.

The measure would also require utility companies to disclose their political expenditures — and face heavy fines if they use ratepayer funds for political purposes…