Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Saturday he’s prepared to vote for an increase in the state’s income tax rate and said he’s working with “building blocks” to get to 60 votes in his fight to secure another term in the leadership post he’s held for nearly four decades.

His challenger for the post, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, promised all Democrats running for the General Assembly would get the same campaign support from the party.

Pipe fitters and operating engineers. Trial lawyers and companies such as Boeing and Microsoft. And nursing homes . . . lots and lots of nursing homes.

As embattled Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan scrambles to retain his hold on power despite a growing stream of Democratic defections, the legendary Southwest Side pol has clout and power and raw fear of retribution working in his favor. He also has one crucial thing: money. Big money. Money to buy ads, hire operatives, punish enemies and make sure members of his caucus know who butters their bread.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “anarchy” simply as “the absence of government.” That’s essentially the situation we’re stuck in, since the Illinois General Assembly—which has not met since last spring—decided it was closed for business.

There is a second definition, too. “A state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority,” it reads.

That fits even better. “Lawlessness” matches the description of acts alleged in a federal indictment that puts House Speaker Mike Madigan at the center of a government-for-sale scheme on a scale beyond anything in living memory.

Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who was facing prison after pleading guilty to political corruption, has died from COVID-19 complications, his attorney said Saturday.

Attorney Dylan Smith confirmed the death based on his conversations with Sandoval’s family.

“I was proud to have represented Martin Sandoval,” Smith said. “He was someone of considerable ability who had done a great deal of good in his life and someone who was working very hard to make amends for his mistakes and, in his own way, doing what he could through his cooperation with the government to contribute to their efforts to clean up things in Springfield.

“And I know he was sincerely remorseful for having strayed from his own standards,” Smith said.

Midwestern states have taken a variety of approaches to COVID mitigation efforts. Officials are bracing for additional post-Thanksgiving infections.