Metro East Sun

Candidate for 113th Illinois House District Ashley Hunsaker is concerned about the rising cost of living for families across Illinois. 

Hunsaker said she is running for State Representative to be the voice of Illinoisan families who are currently suffering from the policy decisions made by out-of-touch politicians.

“Feeding a family of six has its challenges," Hunsaker said. "Especially when the price of basic grocery items have skyrocketed. Families are hurting and I'm going to Springfield to bring permanent tax relief.”

Hunsaker, a Republican entrepreneur, will face incumbent Democrat Jay Hoffman in the fall. Hoffman has been in office since 2013. 

Bryce Hill, Director of Fiscal and Economic Research, together with Thomas Erie, a policy intern, wrote on Illinois Policy that consumers are paying $522 more for the same grocery items over last year. Home food prices increased 12.2% from June 2021 to the same month this year. Meat, poultry, fish and eggs cost $115 more this year, and cereals and bakery products cost $75 more this year than the previous. Consumers are paying $59 more on fruits and vegetables; $58 more on non-alcoholic beverages; $54 more on dairy. 

The rise in costs outweighs the savings from Gov. J.B. Pritzker's suspension of the 1% grocery tax, which he has forced grocers to advertise. The suspension will save Illinoisans $50 based on late July prices. But Illinois is one of only 13 states to tax groceries in the first place. The economic woes are not going away anytime soon as the nation faces a trade-off between high inflation and low unemployment. Additionally, public sector unions are pushing for a constitutional amendment that would cement their power in the state constitution and increase the average property tax bill by $2,100 in order to pay for their demands.

Hunsaker, a mother of four and CEO of her own company, is deeply concerned that Illinois policymakers are embracing radical policies that are leading the state in the wrong direction. She is running her campaign on the economy and jobs, parental rights in education and crime. She has managed HTS Coatings LLC, a thermal spray, machining, and grinding company alongside her husband, Jason, since 2015. HTS Coatings has been named one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the U.S. Previously she oversaw accounting at various companies before starting her own company.