SPRINGFIELD - Illinois governors have long enjoyed a power that most other states' governors, and even the president, can only envy: the authority to single-handedly alter proposed laws that legislators send to them.

Now, some Illinois lawmakers are alleging that Gov. Rod Blagojevich has repeatedly abused his "amendatory veto" power, and they're threatening to amend it right out of the state constitution, where it has resided for more than 35 years.

"If the governor is unable to (responsibly) play with his toys, we're going to take his toys away from him," state Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, said last week, announcing his plan for a ballot referendum to eliminate the amendatory veto power.

The proposal came after the Democratic governor suddenly loaded up a carefully negotiated public transit bill with an out-of-the-blue provision to provide free rides to senior citizens all over the state, then boxed the legislature into going along with it last week. For some lawmakers - who have long alleged that Blagojevich has made himself a one-man government - it was the last straw.

"You will get away (this time) with trying to legislate from the second floor," where the governor's office is located in the Capitol, said state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, in one of a string of furious floor speeches Thursday. "(But) the constitution in this state will tell you, if you would bother reading it, that we write the laws in the state of Illinois, not you, sir ¦ Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to call the governor into account."

Fritchey's proposed legislation, he said, would clarify that point, amending the state's 1970 constitution to remove the governor's power to alter legislation. It would have to be approved by three-fifths of the legislature to get on the November ballot, then would have to win voter approval.

In theory, it could eliminate Blagojevich's amendatory veto powers as early as the end of this year, though its success is politically iffy. A top Blagojevich ally, Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, could quash the legislation at will.

In most states and in the federal government, legislators pass bills, and the chief executive can either sign or veto but can't unilaterally alter them. Currently, six states give the governor the power to amend a bill as part of his veto message: Illinois, Alabama, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey and West Virginia.

Also, Wisconsin governors can employ a partial veto to delete words or paragraphs in appropriation bills that could potentially change the meaning of the legislation.

Kevin McDermott can be reached at kmcdermott@post-dispatch.com or 782-4912.