Galesburg Reporter

President Biden visited Illinois last week to tout his record and try to convince local families that his policies are working for them.

However, a closer look at the numbers reveals a different reality. Inflation has soared since Biden took office, burdening ordinary working families with high taxes and limited opportunities.

Since taking office, President Biden's policies have led to skyrocketing inflation rates that have hit working families hard. Gas prices have surged by 34%, food prices have spiked by 18%, and rent has increased by 15.3%.

These increases translate to more money out of the pockets of hardworking families with little in return. And that’s what “Bidenomics” is—more money out of your pocket to fund unsustainable government projects with very little in return. 

Unfortunately, the economic challenges facing Illinois families do not end with inflation. Right on the heels of Biden’s visit, Illinoisans got hit with a gas tax hike and the resumption of the grocery tax. 

Despite temporary tax relief measures, gas and grocery prices remain at their highest levels in years. Illinoisans will experience not one but two gas tax hikes this year, with the second hitting just as families hit the road for Fourth of July celebrations.

For families already struggling to make ends meet, Illinois’ tax burden leaves little room for financial stability or the pursuit of a better future.

This is particularly true for the working class and minority families who are most in need of stability and opportunity. A recent WalletHub report ranked Illinois last in economic racial equality.

Political leaders like President Biden and incumbent Congressman Eric Sorensen preach racial equality, but their policies have delivered the least racially equal economy in the nation. They talk of providing opportunity and financial stability but deliver high taxes and inflation.

Beyond pointing out the hypocrisy, this is a cause close to my heart. As a twelve-year-old boy, my family fled the communist takeover of Nicaragua and immigrated to Galesburg, Illinois. We came to a land of equal opportunity where everyone has a shot at building the life of their dreams.

“Bidenomics'' makes that harder and harder. The soaring inflation rates and burdensome taxes limit opportunities and leave working-class and minority families running in place. Too often, government policies pick winners and losers and back the politically connected while harming ordinary families who can’t afford high-priced lobbyists or government deals. 

It doesn’t have to be this way. Our leaders must ensure that ordinary working families can achieve financial stability, ensure the next generation is better off than the last, and that everyone, regardless of background, can pursue the American Dream. 

That means pushing policies that reduce government spending, unleash the nation’s energy production, and provide an excellent education for all families, not just the elites. That is what's needed to improve our country and our state and what voters should demand of their leaders.

Ray Estrada is a Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 17th District. When Ray was twelve, his family fled Nicaragua, barely escaping the deadly civil war that resulted in the communist takeover. Ray and his wife Amy settled in Galesburg, where they raised their four kids. He built a successful business career, and today, he continues to give back to the community to help those in need.