CONTACT:
Gwen Pepin
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Springfield, IL — As Donald Trump prepares to deliver his budget address to Congress this evening, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez released the following statement:
“A month into his second term, Trump has been a disaster for Illinois. Instead of fulfilling his promise to lower costs, Trump’s policies, like the tariffs that take effect today, are raising prices on everyday essentials like food and gas, electronics, cars and appliances. Now, he and House Republicans are pushing a budget that could rip health care away from the 700,000 Illinoisans who rely on Medicaid–all to give massive tax breaks to billionaires like Elon Musk. Trump is already the least popular president in modern American history and there’s no question why: Trump continues to leave working Illinoisans in the dust, while carrying water for corrupt billionaires. Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to beat back against Trump’s billionaire agenda and make life more affordable for working families.”
Under Trump’s leadership, prices continue to climb as consumer confidence plummets.
- Axios: Despite promising to bring prices down on day one, just weeks into his presidency Trump has had the opposite effect driving up prices with his tariff taxes.
- NPR Illinois: Trump’s reckless economic policies have caused U.S. consumer confidence to plummet at its sharpest pace in nearly four years as inflation is set to pick up.
- WGN9: Business investments are now “stalling” due to Trump’s funding freezes and mass firings. Small businesses in Illinois are reeling with no option but to raise prices for their customers.
- NBC News: Major retailers are anticipating price increases for fruits and vegetables as soon as next week
- CBS News: Auto industry leaders say tariffs will force new car prices up as much as $12,000
As his first and only legislative priority, Trump is trying to rig the economy for the ultra-rich and giant corporations by ripping away Illinoisans’ health care and food assistance while raising costs on working families.
- Chicago Sun-Times: Trump and House Republicans’ budget would force working families to foot the bill for massive tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy.
- WTTW Chicago: The budget threatens Medicaid funding and would leave Illinois with a massive budget shortfall; upend funding for hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes; and threaten medical care for 770,000 of our neighbors.
- Crain’s Chicago Business: The Republican cuts will strip breathing room from working families already struggling with high prices, while rural hospitals in Illinois will face devastating effects.
Voters are fed up with Donald Trump and his shadow president Elon Musk. Democrats are standing up to their dangerous agenda.
- The Washington Post: 57% say Trump has exceeded his authority since taking office.
- Ipsos/Reuters: 71% agree the ultra-wealthy have too much influence on the White House and half of independents oppose Trump’s early actions across the board.
- Axios: Elon Musk’s approval ratings are underwater and Americans are concerned DOGE firings will delay Social Security, student aid, and other critical federal programs.
- NBC News: Republicans are running scared, with GOP leaders advising legislators to stop holding town halls so they can avoid facing constituents affected by their reckless agenda.
But Illinois Democrats are fighting back:
- ABC7 Chicago: Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin in pressing the White House to release nearly $2 billion in federal funding promised for Illinois they have held up illegally.
- WBEZ Chicago: Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined other Democratic states in suing the administration to halt cuts in medical research funding.
- CBS2 Chicago: Gov. Pritzker, Sen. Durbin and other Illinois Democrats joined staff at University of Illinois Mile Square Health Center, standing with health care workers and delivering a message to Trump “hands off Medicaid.”
- WAND Springfield: AG Raoul fought back against Musk’s firings, supporting a pause on the Trump administration’s federal worker buy-out plan.
