Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I read with great concern this morning the announcement from Standard

& Poors that they have downgraded Illinois credit rating another notch, a move that will cost Illinois taxpayers millions through even higher borrowing costs. S & P said it lowered Illinois credit rating because of low pension funding levels and lack of action on reform measures, but also described our economic outlook as negative. No wonder. The past session of the General Assembly saw a complete lack of leadership from the Governor and his elected officials who control both the House and Senate. Facing yet another reelection campaign, they simply ignored making any tough decisions and counted on you and I failing to notice or simply continuing to put up with their not doing the job. We can no longer afford to give our elected leaders a free pass without demanding that they solve our financial crisis in Springfield. Linda Holmes, in the only opportunity she had this past year to vote on pensions on a bill to reform her own legislative pension system voted no, and against reform. Its time we hold these do-nothing politicians accountable and vote them out of office in November. If we dont, we have only ourselves to blame when the situation gets even worse next year. Peter Hurtado Candidate, 42nd State Senate