North Carolina lottery commissioners could be stripped of their appointments for just cause under a bill recommended Tuesday by a House committee.

The change comes after Kevin Geddings resigned from the commission last November as it was revealed he had worked for Scientific Games Corp., a company that tried unsuccessfully to win North Carolina's lottery business.

House Speaker Jim Black appointed Geddings, but said later he wouldn't have had he known about Geddings' work with Scientific Games. Under the lottery law approved last August, Black, Senate leader Marc Basnight and Gov. Mike Easley were given no authority to remove their appointees.

Geddings could have chosen to remain at his post until his term expired in August 2008, barring any state ethics violations.

Basnight's office initially proposed allowing commissioners to serve at the pleasure of whoever appointed them, but the language was later removed.

"I think it's a good idea that there be some procedures for removing them for cause," House Majority Leader Joe Hackney, D-Orange, said after the proposal cleared his House judiciary committee.