Much like today, taxes, the plight of urban areas and even labor issues were among the themes nearly 40 years ago when a U.S. president addressed the Illinois General Assembly.

President Jimmy Carter addressed the Illinois General Assembly in May 1978. After his address, Carter took questions from members of the Legislature. Two questions focused on the Labor Law Reform Act, a measure to set up a framework for unionizing employees across the country. One member who supported the bill noted the loss of manufacturing jobs to southern states with non-union wages, while another member said the measure would be a quote “disastrous piece of legislation for our free enterprise system,” and noted how companies not complying would be quote “blacklisted” from getting federal contracts. Carter said there has to be some threat of punishment.

Despite Carter’s support, the measure ultimately failed, but labor
issues are still being debated in the legislature as part of the governor’s
“turnaround agenda.” President Barack Obama will be the first President in
nearly 40 years to address the Illinois General Assembly Wednesday.