The Illinois House and Senate Wednesday welcomed the next mayor of Chicago to a rare joint session. Brandon Johnson (pictured) called Chicago a union town and Illinois a union state.

“Just look at our state constitution, where we grant workers the fundamental right to organize and to collectively bargain. Right there in our bill of rights. That’s a remarkable testament to what a dreamer once said: ‘The enemy of labor is the enemy of the Negro.’ Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

To that, State Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) gave a “black pride and solidarity” salute.

At a news conference outside the Capitol a short time after Johnson’s speech, a legislative leader who hired Johnson two decades ago remained impressed.

“He is an effective messenger, and he is asking in all the right ways for the right things,” said Senate President Don Harmon (pictured, far left) (D-Oak Park). “And we want to work with him to see what’s possible.”

And how will Johnson make things as good as he says they will be?

“I thought he did a really nice job of pushing aside the myth that there’s a false choice,” Harmon responded. “There is not a conflict between progressive policies and prosperity.

“And I think Illinois is proving that.”

Republicans called the appearance long on politics and short on solutions.

“It doesn’t help his cause or the case for Chicago to come here and try to divide,” said State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield). “We’re here to work together to build a great city of Chicago again. He wants to divide us and be overly political. And that’s not what we are here to do in this building.”

State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) provided a rebuttal, calling the state “one Illinois,” adding it does no good to start the relationship by being closed-minded.