The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell demanded Monday that the Ohio Republican Party seek the resignation of House Speaker Larry Householder, a request the party chief quickly rejected.

"The most responsible action for party leaders to take is to demand that Speaker Householder resign his leadership position immediately," Blackwell, a Cincinnati Republican, said in a letter to GOP Chairman Robert Bennett.

Blackwell's letter follows word that a federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to companies that have worked for Householder as part of an investigation of the speaker's campaign practices.

Blackwell said Bennett should also ask Householder, a Glenford Republican, to cooperate with law enforcement officials.

"We must do everything within our power to root out the political cancer that is doing great harm to our party and state," Blackwell's letter said.

Bennett said the investigation was serious but the process must be allowed to work.

"No one has been found guilty of anything and at this point I would no sooner call on Larry Householder to resign than I would Ken Blackwell," Bennett said.

Dwight Crum, a Householder spokesman, brushed off the resignation demand.

"We're continuing to work on the challenges the state is facing in rebuilding our economy, creating jobs and protecting public pensions," Crum said. "It's unfortunate that some people seem to be more interested in playing politics."