One Year After OBBB, DPI Chair Hernandez, Rep. Ford, Mayor Hoskins, Lt. Governor Candidate Mitchell: No Illinoisan Should Go Hungry


One Year After OBBB, DPI Chair Hernandez, Rep. Ford, Mayor Hoskins, Lt. Governor Candidate Mitchell: No Illinoisan Should Go Hungry

Today’s press conference comes one year after the signing of a budget that gutted social safety nets 


Forest Park, IL — One year after Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” into law, Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) Chair Lisa Hernandez, State Representative La Shawn Ford, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, and lieutenant governor candidate Christian Mitchell slammed the bill’s cuts to social safety net programs, including food assistance cuts that kicked more than 360,000 low-income Illinoisans off the program.


The Illinois Democrats reaffirmed their fight against the OBBB’s impacts at Living Fresh Market, the nation’s largest Black-owned supermarket, which estimates about a third of their customers use SNAP benefits to buy the groceries they need. In the FY27 budget, Democrats passed legislation that provides nearly $100 million to help families afford groceries and $400 in emergency assistance for families kicked off food assistance. In addition, under Governor JB Pritzker’s administration, new grocery stores have been able to open under the Illinois Grocery Store Initiative, which works to eliminate food deserts across Illinois.

"Making sure no one goes hungry should be a goal that unites every leader—no matter what side of the aisle you stand on. But for the past year, Republicans have made it clear: they don’t give a damn,” said Chair Hernandez. “Illinois Democrats led by example and passed another balanced budget that prioritizes food access, emergency food assistance, and affordability. Each of us are ready to keep fighting, because that’s what Illinoisans deserve from their leaders.”

“Trump’s Big Ugly Bill has let families across Illinois down, and the President has made it clear that he simply doesn’t care,” said lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Christian Mitchell. “While Darren Bailey continues to defend the President, JB Pritzker is fighting back. In the face of these cruel policies, he secured emergency payments for families kicked off food assistance, invested in school breakfast and lunch programs, and increased funding for grocery stores across the state.” 

“Republicans’ cuts to SNAP benefits not only undermine the livelihoods of hardworking families but also risk devastating small businesses like the one we're in today,” said Representative Ford. “Grocers will be forced to lay off employees, pushing even more people into a need for food assistance. This is a dangerous cycle that erodes the fabric of our communities. We must unite in the fight against income inequality and the alarming concentration of wealth in the hands of a few.” 

“Federal SNAP cuts are taking food off families’ tables and revenue out of our local economy,” said Mayor Hoskins. “Here in Forest Park, we’re already seeing the consequences for families and the local grocers that serve them. I’m proud to stand with our state’s leadership and make one thing clear: we won’t stop fighting for the families and businesses that keep our neighborhoods strong.”

“Federal cuts to SNAP and food assistance have squeezed our community’s families, and budgets are getting even tighter,” said Living Fresh Market Senior Executive Melody Winston. “We’re grateful for the leaders here in Illinois who are doing everything they can to strengthen food assistance and help independent grocers like Living Fresh Market ensure families have access to fresh, high‑quality meat and produce.”

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