SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Senate rejected a plan on Tuesday that would have exempted some injured veterans from paying property taxes, amidst concerns the plan wasn't put together legally.

The move came on the same day senators approved a separate measure to allow young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance plans longer: age 26 for most and age 30 for veterans.

Some lawmakers challenged both, saying Gov. Rod Blagojevich overstepped his power in creating the measures.

For example, Blagojevich rewrote the property tax plan from legislation that would have helped the village of Downs pay for a new sewer project.

"This is strictly prohibited by the constitution," said state Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton.

The measure's sponsor, state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Pontiac, agreed. He called the legislation for a vote but took the unusual step of voting against it.

"It's going to wind up in court," Rutherford said.

Still, supporters pushed for Blagojevich's plan anyway, saying the proposal made sense for people who served in the military.

"Veterans deserve the break," said state Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago. "They made the ultimate sacrifice."

The legislation fell three votes short of approval. The rejection also leaves Downs without its plan to extend a tax increment financing district, which diverts property taxes to pay for development. In this case, it was a sewer project.

The insurance measure was approved by a 35-17 vote, and Blagojevich praised lawmakers for the action.

"Now, parents of those young adults will have an option to give their children access to adequate health care," Blagojevich said.

The property tax legislation is House Bill 4201. The health insurance plan is House Bill 5285.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865.