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Illinois Governor's Plan Criticized

ILLINOIS – As reported by the Chicago Tribune: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich's new attempt to overhaul the Illinois Gaming Board comes with a hitch: part of it violates state law and the governor's proposed workaround for that concerns some critics.

"Blagojevich last month tapped Sheila Simon, daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, to fill one of the gaming panel's five seats, even though he knew her appointment could not go forward under existing law.

"Simon is a member of the Carbondale City Council, a job she doesn't want to leave, and the Illinois Riverboat Gambling Act forbids board members from serving simultaneously on any other paid public body.

"Blagojevich wants the legislature to do away with that rule to accommodate Simon, who is a law professor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

"But critics and other experts on the gaming law said the restriction on dual service was put in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest. Though they have nothing but praise for Simon, they also fear that making an exception for her could open the door to problems with future appointees.

"… In addition to Simon, those appointed are: retired Judge Aaron Jaffe, the new chairman; Rev. Eugene Winkler, a Methodist minister; accountant Charles Gardner; and businessman Joe Moore, Jr., who along with Simon is also scheduled to join the board in July…"

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