Sangamon Sun

GOP gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan is decrying President Joe Biden’s visit to Illinois on Wednesday (May 11). 

“With runaway inflation, historic gas prices and a country and state headed in the complete wrong direction, the last thing Illinois needs is a visit from Joe Biden,” Sullivan said in a press release. “Yesterday, Biden acknowledged that inflation is real, while blaming Putin and COVID for rising prices. That’s little comfort to Illinois families who are suffering from sky-high heating costs and food prices, and businesses that are facing higher shipping and operating costs. Biden’s failure in Washington should be proof to Illinois that you can’t spend your way out of a problem — and that we need a real alternative here at home to the president’s failed agenda.”  

Sullivan also emphasized that things don't make sense if "the average income in Illinois is $67,095. That means you could add the average home price, plus the average salary and STILL not have enough to attend Pritzker and Biden's fundraiser!"

“While Biden will rub elbows with Chicago’s wealthiest residents at a $365,000 per head fundraiser for Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the issues he will NOT cover will speak loudest: Including the epidemic of violent crime in our neighborhoods," he said. "More than 900 people have been shot so far this year, with over 170 fatalities.” 

Sullivan urged Illinoisans to decide what's best for the state and for their families.

“The voters don’t have to wait until November to choose a better direction. On June 28, voters in Illinois can join our campaign to make a real change from the mistakes of the past, and an end to the corruption, the runaway spending, and the failure that’s driving our future out of our state. Join us to Save Illinois," he said.

During the trip, he visited a family farm in Kankakee, Reuters reported. Biden noted the prices of serval household food items have been steadily increasing and are set to go high still following instability in the world economy due to the Ukraine conflict. He also visited Chicago where he spoke to 3,500 union members.

While Biden was ostensibly in Illinois to discuss inflation, Pritzker — a billionaire — also hosted a campaign fundraiser for the president where tickets sold for as much as $365,000, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

Gas prices were high before the conflict in Ukraine as Illinois has the second-highest gas tax in the country, Illinois Policy reported. Illinoisans paid 77.96 cents per gallon in gas taxes alone. Both federal and state taxes are taken into account. Missouri, which lies right across the border to the west, has the country's second-lowest gas tax. In Illinois, a gallon of gas costs 42 cents higher than in Missouri.