Illinois senators have rejected a plan to streamline government across the state.
The plan would have established a commission to recommend which units of government to eliminate. Then lawmakers would have voted to accept or reject the recommendation.
Only 14 senators supported the idea Tuesday. Thirty voted "no."
Illinois has the most units of government in the nation, with more than 7,000 school districts, townships, villages and more.
Some critics say reducing that number would save money for taxpayers.
But opponents say rural areas and growing suburbs need the services provided by all those government offices.