How much stagnation has this caused?

In his May 22 letter to the Daily Herald, Bob Hedrich opposes Gov. Rauner's support of term limits for elected officials. Mr. Hedrich, do you favor Mike Madigan's 40-year stay in the Illinois State House of Representatives, and the stagnation of government that has caused?

Mr. Hedrich on term limits: "We have elections every two years. If voters want to make a change, they always have that opportunity."

A beautiful thought, but not grounded in political reality.

Re-election of incumbents is a major goal of both political parties, because it is key to the seniority system that guarantees political power stays in the hands of the House and Senate committee chairman ... like Mike Madigan. And, that seniority can only be attained by length of time in elected office. The House and Senate are allowed to elect their own leaders, and the political power the leadership holds is the tool used to control who chairs which committee, and what legislation does, or does not, pass a committee to become law.

Have you ever been asked to donate to groups called "The Democrat (or Republican) Senate (or House) Re-election Committee? This money is used to keep incumbents in office. Party newcomers are denied access to money donated by well-meaning but unknowing party loyalists. "Insider" help and knowledge are also denied to party newcomers attempting to replace incumbents.

Mr. Hedrich, it's not "term limits" that deny voters a choice, it's the lack of term limits that denies choice, be it choice of candidates, new ideas or political reforms.

Dennis C. Ryan

Elburn