Jackson Exposed for Extending State Contracts, Leading a Company Accused of Trafficking Nurses, and Dismissing Georgia’s Healthcare Crisis
This week, billionaire Rick Jackson has been enmeshed in a series of scandals that expose just how much of a self-enriching insider he truly is. On Tuesday, 11Alive revealed that Jackson extended a state contract into 2027 despite promising Georgians he’d wind down these agreements if he’s elected governor – then, on Thursday, CNN shockingly revealed that Jackson’s healthcare company faced a class action suit over allegations it trafficked and mistreated nurses working for the company. Jackson was also caught on camera earlier in the week dismissing Georgia’s healthcare crisis, admitting to a reporter that he didn’t think Georgia’s failure to expand Medicaid was “as bad as anybody else thinks.”
Here’s just a quick look at what Georgians were reading and watching in response to Rick Jackson’s multiple scandals this week.
On Rick Jackson extending his state contracts:
11Alive: Despite pledge to ‘unwind’ his business, Rick Jackson extends a state contract
Doug Richards: “A company owned by GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson has signed a new contract worth millions to provide health services to a state agency. This comes after the billionaire Jackson said he would unwind his state business if elected.”
WMAZ: Rick Jackson’s Business Extends State Contract
Conner Hendricks: “Jackson recently signed a new contract worth millions […] It expires six months after the next governor is sworn in.”
Lisa Rayam: “Time to talk about billionaire businessman Rick Jackson signing a renewal contract worth millions that will provide health services to a state agency. Trouble is, it’s something the healthcare services guru said he would back off from doing now that he’s running for Georgia governor […] Is Rick Jackson blatantly defaulting on a campaign promise?”
On Rick Jackson mistreating employees and trafficking nurses:
CNN: Georgia GOP candidate and immigration hardliner faces an immigration scandal of his own
Steve Contorno: “As billionaire Republican Rick Jackson blanketed Georgia’s airwaves this spring with ads vowing a crackdown on undocumented immigrants if elected governor, a company in his healthcare empire was in the throes of a costly legal battle over the treatment of its immigrant workforce. A lawsuit filed by foreign-born nurses accused Avant Healthcare Professionals of luring them to the United States with the promise of the American Dream, only to pay them substandard wages and trap them in rigid contracts for years.”
WJCL: Rick Jackson Immigrant Worker Settlement
Brooke Butler: “One of Jackson’s healthcare companies settled a lawsuit with immigrant workers over their treatment. The company agreed to pay 3 million dollars to 5,000 immigrant workers. That was on June 22 — days after Jackson became the GOP nominee.”
Caught on Camera Dismissing Georgia’s Healthcare Crisis:
WRBL Sunday Conversations with Chuck Williams
Chuck Williams: “The state has not expanded Medicaid, and there have been consequences for that.”
Rick Jackson: “Well, I don’t think the consequences are as bad as anybody else thinks.”
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