Jackson-West Consulting

08/25/2023

06/13/2022

Christopher West was honored to be asked to moderate the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber's Legislative Luncheon last month in Wi******er.

11/30/2021

We're excited today for our client Rush Street Gaming who will ceremonially break ground next Tuesday on Rivers Portsmouth Casino Resort in what will be the first casino in Virginia to break ground after legislators approved 5 casinos in 2020. Details here:

With the upcoming Portsmouth casino groundbreaking, Rivers Portsmouth Casino Resort will take one step closer to completion.

08/15/2021

"Joy Barnes has worked as a home care provider and nurse for more than 30 years. She is a mother, a grandmother and a proud union member of SEIU Virginia 512.

Throughout the pandemic, Barnes has worked every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at two different jobs, risking her own health and safety to protect and care for her clients.

Yet she barely earns enough to pay her bills. At times, she has no money left for groceries or household supplies. Meanwhile, her rent is going up.
..

This budget looks out for our essential workers. It provides premium pay and expedites rate increases for home care workers like Barnes, as well as providers of community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities."

Joy Barnes has worked as a home care provider and nurse for more than 30 years. She is a mother, a grandmother and a proud union member of SEIU Virginia

04/27/2021

The Loudoun County School Board's Legislative and Policy Committee met with its delegation to Richmond last week to discuss this past GA session. Our firm was pleased to assist the School Board pass large swaths of its agenda. Here are some highlights:

Passage of HB1909 (Subramanyam) that allows school boards to create a gun free zone on its school division owned property.

Passage of HB1838 (Reid) allowing for the school board to allow for staggered terms for future school boards.

Passage of HB 1904 and SB 1196 (Jenkins/Locke), legislation advanced by Governor Northam and to ensure that teacher, principal and division superintendent evaluations include an evaluation of cultural competency.

The inclusion of a Cost of Competing Adjustment (COCA) of $14.6M for Planning District 8 (Bell/Reid budget amendments). Other than COCA, state education funding does not otherwise adjust for the substantially higher cost of living and highly competitive wage market in Northern Virginia versus elsewhere in the state.

Funding to ensure that school divisions were held harmless for COVID-19 related reduction in sales tax revenue and Average Daily Membership, two components of Virginia’s public education funding formula.

A lot done and a lot more to do.

01/30/2021

Congratulations to our client Rush Street Gaming. ... and just in time to bet on Brady v. Mahomes.

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08/14/2020

Congratulations Sen. John Bell and Del. Mark Levine!

07/15/2020

“Torian urged Northam on Tuesday to use money that Virginia received under the federal CARES Act to provide $23.1 million in hazard pay through the end of the year and up to $7.8 million for two weeks of paid leave for personal care attendants who tend to Medicaid recipients in their homes instead of long-term care institutions.”

House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, is intensifying pressure on Gov. Ralph Northam to use federal emergency coronavirus aid to provide hazard pay and paid leave to health attendants

05/27/2020

Congratulations are in order for our client Rush Street Gaming on taking the next step towards bringing a casino to the City of Portsmouth.

On Tuesday, the Portsmouth City Council approved Rush Street Gaming’s casino proposal and the Norfolk City Council selected the Pamunkey Indian Tribe as its preferred casino operator, as the two Hampton Roads projects move toward a November referendum vote on the cities’ ballots. Chicago-based R...

05/13/2020

Close followers of the Virginia General Assembly know that longtime Portsmouth Senator Louise Lucas has worked for the better part of her legislative career to bring a casino and the development that comes along with it to her constituents. Her hard work and patience has paid off.

We worked for Chicago-based Rush Street Casinos alongside Sen. Lucas, Del. Barry Knight, Del. Steve Heretick, the City of Portsmouth and many others this year to bring casinos to the Commonwealth. Pending local referendums in Portsmouth and other localities in November, Virginians now won't have to cross state lines to go to a casino, keeping more revenues in state to fund critical needs.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) —The Senate voted 30-9 Wednesday, without debate, to accept Gov. Northam's amendments to casino legislation. The House of Delegates voted in favor66-29. Gov. Ralph Northam took action on several gambling-related pieces of legislation before the General Assembly reconvened on...

04/19/2020

We were happy to help PETA work with Senator John Bell, Senator Lionell Spruill, Del. Mark Levine and Governor Northam win some meaningful protections this year for chained dogs.

Virginia Governor just signed legislation prohibiting keeping dogs tethered during extreme weather!

Actor Carol Burnett is celebrating with a thank you letter to Governor Ralph Northam 🎉

04/16/2020

We enjoyed advocating this General Assembly session to create the Office of New Americans within the Department of Social Services. From helping refugees navigating the citizenship process to helping align refugees with housing, employment opportunities and other services, ONA is a meaningful step forward in how the Commonwealth integrates new Americans into our community.

Rev. Christopher Tweel said it well in this LTE from the RTD earlier this year.

“As a faith leader, the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ urge me to welcome those in need. It is a moral imperative, the very identity of what it is to be a Christian. Still, as a Virginian, embracing refugees just makes good fiscal sense. After becoming part of our communities, refugees pay taxes, help grow our economy, start new businesses and bring unique skill sets to our workforce. Five years ago, the nearly 87,000 refugees living here paid nearly $964 million in national, state and local taxes. At a time when all Virginians need a robust state economy to be competitive and relevant, refugees are doing more than their part. With the Office of New Americans, we can do the good work that continues a kind and beneficial trend.”

Many thanks to Sen. Ghazala Hashmi and Del. Kathy Tran for spearheading this effort and to Gov. Northam for signing ONA into law and protecting its funding.

Office of New Americans can benefit Va.