Moody's Joins Fitch In Downgrading IL Credit

A second major rating agency is downgrading Illinois' credit worthiness. Moody's Investors Service lowered the state's $27 billion in outstanding bonded indebtedness yesterday to A3 from A2. The new rating's three levels above junk status. Illinois has the worst credit rating among states. Fitch Ratings downgraded Illinois' credit Monday. Both firms blame lawmakers' lack of action on a $97 billion pension shortfall. The Legislature adjourned its spring session without adopting a plan to make up the difference over 30 years, but the governor's calling lawmakers back to Springfield for a special session. A downgrade costs the state millions more to borrow money when it sells future bonds. Standard & Poor's reported Thursday it's keeping its A- rating for Illinois after predicting earlier there'd be no pension solution by May.