*** The Sen. Mike Jacobs interview claiming that the governor threatened to run someone against him in the next election and made other threats is below. It’s a must-listen. ***

OK, here it is. The file crashed my server. I used more bandwidth today than in all of May. They had to move it to another server because it was so popular. Thanks to the fine folks at Microchip Computer Solutions for taking the time to help…

*** Download the Audio Here ***

*** Raw video of CBS2’s interview can be found by clicking here. ***

*** And Animal Farm has the transcript of the audio file above. ***

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* 11:17am - The most prevalent rumor at the Statehouse right now is that Gov. Rod Blagojevich will call the General Assembly back this weekend for a special session.

Out-of-towners are especially concerned because hotel check-out time is at noon and they need to know what to do. I’m getting bombarded with e-mails, instant messages, text messages and calls asking what’s going on.

Unfortunately, I can’t give you a definitive answer yet because no decision has reportedly been made at this moment. I can say that a trusted source says a weekend session is unlikely but not 100 percent out of the question.

Sorry that I couldn’t be more helpful. I guess you could always check back into your rooms if a decision is made.

Meanwhile, let’s all keep our fingers crossed, tap our heels together, close our eyes and say in unison: “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”

Hey, it can’t hurt.

* 11:33am - I should also point out that last night Senate President Emil Jones said they would likely go home for the weekend unless the Republicans don’t cooperate. If the Republicans made trouble, he said, then he would keep everyone in. As usual, nobody knew whether he was completely joking or not.

*** UPDATE 1 *** 11:50 am - The Senate has a new amendment to SB5, which takes out the effective date. SB5 is the governor’s health insurance program.

Last night, an amendment with the substance of the package fell a vote short of 30, which was an embarrassment for the governor.

*** UPDATE 2 *** 12:05pm - I guess I should add that this new amendment means the bill only requires 30 votes to pass instead of an extraordinary majority. If the bill becomes law, it won’t take effect until June 30 of next year.

The guv’s people thought they had 30 votes to pass the amendment last night, but at least one SDem flipped very late and voted against the amendment. If that Senator is back on board, then they may very well have the 30 votes to send this to the House.

*** UPDATE 3 *** 12:10pm - The House has adjourned until Tuesday.

*** UPDATE 4 *** 12:30pm - The governor’s office has told Speaker Madigan’s office that no special session is planned. So that’s good news, but I get the impression that they’re not holding their breath. Trust is at a premium right now.

*** UPDATE 5 *** 12:49pm - I’m hearing that the governor is putting extreme pressure on Sen. Mike Jacobs to get him to switch positions and vote for Blagojevich’s health insurance bill. Sources say that the governor was very intense during the “loud” meeting and threats were allegedly made to run someone against Jacobs in the next election. Oy.

Jacobs initially agreed to vote for the health insurance bill yesterday, but reportedly changed his mind when he came to the conclusion that he couldn’t trust the governor to keep the promise he made. The governor reportedly offered to release $75 million for a college expansion in Jacobs’ district in exchange for his vote on SB5.

Jacobs is expected to talk about the meetings either on the floor during debate or with reporters later.

I don’t think from what I’ve heard that the gubernatorial pressure has worked so far. Now that the threat has been made to run someone against him, it would be difficult for Jacobs to go along. Stay tuned.

If you’re listening to the Senate right now and can’t figure out why they aren’t moving anything, the Jacobs situation is the likely reason.

*** UPDATE 6 *** 1:45pm - The Senate has adjourned. Looks like Jacobs withstood the pressure.

*** UPDATE 7 *** 1:47pm - Jacobs is talking to reporters. Paul will have audio up as soon as he can.

*** UPDATE 8 *** 1:58pm - Jacobs was pretty heated in his remarks. We’ll get the audio up as soon as we can.

*** UPDATE 9 *** 2:28pm - Wow. Just wow. You really should listen to this audio…

[The audio file is up at the top.]

According to Jacobs, the governor said he would “wreck my political career.” Jacobs also claimed the governor’s office called his local university president to say he had just forfeited a $14 million state grant that Jacobs obtained for the school last year.

“He acted like a spoiled child who wasn’t willing to compromise on anything.” “I’ll be darned if I’m going to let anyone run over me.” “If he wants to play this game, I’ll play it with him.” “This governor of Illinois has done a terrible job.”

“I’ve been around long enough to know when someone is shaking me down.”

“If this governor would have been in East Moline, Illinois in one of my local taverns I would have kicked his tail end.”

“He blew up like a ten year old child.”

“There was a lot of profanity involved.”

“The governor [was] doubling his fist and acting like he wanted to punch me.”

“If the governor of Illinois wants open warfare with me, that’s his goal? Come at it, son. Come at it.”

“If he wants a fight, I’ll fight him.”

“I’ve been around this game a long time, and I’ve never had anybody ever speak to me in that manner.”

“A governor of Illinois should have higher ethical standards.”

[I think his anger got the better of him when he got to this point.] “The governor told me that he’s going to run people against me, well I’ve got news for the governor of Illinois. This Senator is going to run against Gov. Rod Blagojevich.”

*** UPDATE 10 *** 3:12pm - From Rebecca Rausch, the governor’s spokesperson…

“Senator Jacobs wanted a commitment of a $75 million project in his district in exchange for his vote to provide healthcare for everyone. The Governor refused.”

*** UPDATE 11 *** 3:53pm - Small Newspapers has its story up…

A furious Sen. Mike Jacobs said Friday he’ll run against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who he says tried to strong-arm him into voting for the administration’s universal health care plan and threatened to destroy his political career if he didn’t.

“I’ve been around long enough to know when someone is shaking me down,” the East Moline Democrat said. […]

Sen. Jacobs’ accusations were just the most sensational example of the frustration in Springfield over Democrats’ failure to pass a state budget. The budget has been complicated by Gov. Blagojevich’s call for a massive new program to guarantee health insurance for everyone in the state.

Gov. Blagojevich was desperate to win Sen. Jacobs’ vote for the health plan Friday. Jacobs says that when he wouldn’t agree, the governor threatened to do everything possible to throw him out of office.

*** UPDATE 12 *** 3:59pm - AP…

A state senator complained Friday that Gov. Rod Blagojevich made unethical threats against him and that the two nearly came to blows in a disagreement over health care.

“There should never be a time when the governor of Illinois threatens someone in a political and personal manner. It’s beneath the decorum of this building,” said a visibly angry Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. “I thought we were going to come to blows.”