(The Center Square) – A Democratic Illinois congressman argues jobs will be lost as a result of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cuts, saying Albertsons’ Jewel in Moline will lose 20% of their revenue. A former congressional challenger pushed back.
At a recent committee hearing, Illinois U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, highlighted the importance of food assistance programs and community connection through a personal story from his hometown.
“It’s not just that people in my neighborhood will go hungry. Steve [Sorensen’s grocery clerk] loses his job after 50 years,” Sorensen said. “The people in the meat department lose their jobs. The pharmacist loses her job. The florist loses their job.”
Ray Estrada, a former 17th Congressional District candidate, criticized Sorensen’s rhetoric, saying he relies too heavily on emotional language and personal stories instead of offering substantive policy solutions.
“Sorensen doesn’t seem to care about what’s really happening with EBT and SNAP. Instead, he uses it to play the victim and blame Republicans, ignoring how Democratic policies over the last four years have contributed to the increased need for assistance,” said Estrada.
In March 2024, approximately 1.99 million Illinois residents received SNAP benefits.
“If states were required to cover 10% of SNAP benefits starting next year, Illinois would have to pay $444 million in state tax dollars,” said Sorensen on social media.
Sorensen warned that SNAP cuts could lead to the closing of Dollar Generals and small town grocery stores.
“There’s no Whole Foods and no Trader Joe’s in my district. We meet our neighbors at the County Market, at Fairway, at Kroger and at Schnucks,” said Sorensen. “We shop the sales, click on digital coupons if you can figure out how the app works, but some of us still clip paper coupons.”
In the committee hearing, Sorensen, a former meteorologist, said it doesn’t take a meteorologist to forecast that there’s going to be food deserts everywhere.
“He [Sorensen] shares personal stories, like his midnight dinners of peanut butter jelly sandwiches or shares pictures of his dog. I’m still looking to hear anything substantial from this guy,” said Estrada, referring to several social media posts where Sorensen is pictured with peanut butter sandwiches. “What is he going to do about taxation?”
Estrada estimated around 200,000 people in the 17th Congressional District are in need of food assistance.
“They tout the high number of people in need of the services. I mean, it’s almost comical. It’s like they’re proud of it,” said Estrada.
