Bill allowing councilwoman to serve on board rejected

Monday, April 18, 2005 | 9:31 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois House on Friday blocked Gov. Rod Blagojevich's attempts to change state ethics law so his appointee to the Illinois Gaming Board can also keep her Carbondale City Council seat.

A measure letting Sheila Simon serve on the Gaming Board and the city council got just 50 "yes" votes, far short of the 60 needed for passage. Its sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang, used a parliamentary move to bring the measure up for a later vote.

The proposal was part of Lang's push to separate the Gaming Board from Blagojevich's Department of Revenue. Two Gaming Board members complained earlier this year that the department was interfering too much -- issuing large contracts, hiring employees and making other moves without board input.

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