Business-friendly Democratic State Senator Mike Jacobs lost his shit and made some fun comments to reporters before calming down. I'm compiling the best quotes here so everyone can participate in the schadenfreude entertainment.
The setup: Jacobs was set off by Senator Kyle McCarter, who pointed out the obvious on the Senate floor by suggesting that there's a conflict of interest in Mike Jacobs' own father (former Senator Denny Jacobs) being employed as a corporate lobbyist on a major bill Mike is sponsoring. Mike allegedly responded by punching McCarter in the chest.
And then he started talking to reporters.
"You can look under my underwear," Jacobs said. "I don't care where you look. But the fact is I support this."
What? No thanks, Mike.
"I would say that the senator is full of shit," Jacobs said. "The one thing I will not allow to happen, is to let anyone question my integrity. Especially someone who couldn't even really polish my shoes."
"If I hurt his feelings, he should file a workers' comp claim."
Ok, that one cracked me up.
“In effect, what he’s saying is I’m a 50-year-old man that does whatever my father tells me, which is a bunch of crap.”
hmmm...someone sounds a little too defensive.
To be fair, it may not matter than Mike's father is a lobbyist for utilities. It may just be in his nature to do whatever Ameren asks and serve corporate special interests, much like his father did as a Senator.
Jacobs lives in the 17th Congressional district, which is currently held by a Republican, and was just redrawn to be even more Democratic. I'd say any talk of Jacobs being a serious candidate for that Congressional seat just died.
McCarter also spoke out against Tenaska's proposed coal plant in Taylorville. I'm impressed by anyone who's willing to stand up to Ameren, ComEd and the Illinois coal industry. Keep it up Kyle.