Washington Council Ernst & Young

Washington Council Ernst & Young (WCEY) is a tax, legislative and regulatory group within Ernst & Young LLP that combines the power of a leading professional services organization with the on-the-ground knowledge, personal relationships and attention to detail of a boutique Washington-insider firm.

The Team

Ray Beeman
Principal and Leader, Washington Council Ernst & Young
Ryan Abraham
Washington Council, Principal Ernst & Young LLP
Heather Meade
Principal, Washington Council, Ernst & Young LLP
View all

How EY can help

  • Americas and US Tax Policy

    Americas and US Tax Policy at Ernst & Young LLP is a one-stop resource for insights on national and state tax reform, tax policy, regulatory changes and legislation.

    Read more

What EY can do for you

 

WCEY’s professional services help clients achieve their legislative and regulatory objectives. In each case, the goal is to help you seize opportunities or mitigate risks so you stay ahead of changes brought by passage of new legislation, promulgation of new regulations or electoral outcomes.

 

Tax

 

Our team represents clients in all significant aspects of federal taxation. WCEY professionals have had a seat at the table for any major tax bill considered by Congress since 1991. The scope of the WCEY tax practice involves active representation of businesses, trade associations and coalitions in diverse industries on legislative, regulatory and treaty matters before Congress, the White House, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Health

 

WCEY’s health care practice develops and implements strategies to address legislative and regulatory issues, including client-specific services for payer and provider groups, employers and other stakeholders in the health care industry.

We represent clients before Congress and the executive branch on significant aspects of federal health care policy, convene cross-industry coalitions, and lead issue- and legislation-specific campaigns. Our work encompasses public and private health insurance and coverage issues, provider concerns, employer health benefits, consumer issues, pharmaceuticals and broader life sciences policy.

 

Energy

 

We represent clients before Congress, the Treasury Department and other administrative agencies on a wide range of issues involving energy, the environment and natural resources. WCEY professionals have decades of experience, in particular, working on taxation of oil and gas, utilities and renewable energy.

Washington Council has a bipartisan, bicameral team with extensive legislative and regulatory experience that covers the bases to help address all of our clients’ needs.

Ray Beeman

Co-leader of Washington Council Ernst & Young

Our services

WCEY can help navigate all aspects of the legislative process. This ranges from House and Senate procedural rules to the intricacies of budget reconciliation and the role of the majority leadership. A bipartisan mindset means that we can better tailor legislative and regulatory initiatives to meet clients’ best interests.

Our service offerings include:

  • Representation before the House, Senate and executive branch
  • Strategic legislative and regulatory advice and planning
  • Legislative process and issue monitoring and reporting
  • Relationship building with government and other stakeholders
  • Coalition development and administration
  • Technical legislative analysis
  • Statutory and report language drafting
  • Preparation of congressional testimony
  • Development of position papers and other background documents
  • Drafting of regulatory comments
  • Strategic communications and messaging

While the Washington lobbying landscape is dynamic, three constants distinguish WCEY:

Politics and process

Firms typically emphasize either “access” to policymakers at the highest levels or substantive technical knowledge. At WCEY, we offer both, and on a bipartisan and bicameral basis that spans the legislative and executive branches.

People

WCEY provides clients a wealth of experience in legislative and regulatory matters, strategy and communications. We have seen up close the full legislative process at work. Our team reacts quickly and provides clients with real-time strategic advice.

Policy

As part of Ernst & Young LLP, WCEY has full access to the knowledge, experience and resources of a leader in professional services — all of which are made available to our clients. We provide leading-class strategic thinking when it comes to federal policy issues. We have a deep technical understanding of, and experience with, all tax, health and energy legislative and regulatory areas.

In an ever changing political and legislative landscape, I am proud of the agility with which our team moves to help clients plan for their next steps. Our institutional knowledge helps clients stay ahead of the curve.

Heather E. Meade

Principal, Washington Council, Ernst & Young LLP

Our team

The professionals who make up WCEY have extensive bipartisan, bicameral experience. Clients receive tailored advice on an array of issues. Our Washington, DC-based team has held senior policy positions in both the executive and legislative branches of government. This includes:

  • The White House
  • The Treasury Department
  • Health and Human Services
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • The Joint Committee on Taxation
  • Senior staff for congressional leadership, committees and key members of both parties

Health care regulatory insights

Actions for the health care industry to enable compliance and inform strategic decision-making.

Learn more

DC Dynamics podcast series

DC Dynamics focuses on what’s coming up in US tax policy, with a look to the past as our guide. Host Ray Beeman breaks down and examines current developments in Congress and puts them into political and policy context.

Listen
EY DC Dynamics Podcast

This Week in Tax Policy

Each week, our tax policy professionals bring you the latest news on national and state tax reform and tax policy developments.
Sign up for Tax and Health Policy Alerts

This Week in Health Policy


Each week, we highlight the latest health policy developments.
Read the latest alert

Navigating change in the nation’s capital

 

Washington Council Ernst & Young
Download brochure

The Team

Ray Beeman

Principal and Leader, Washington Council Ernst & Young
Former congressional tax staff for Ways and Means and Joint Committee on Taxation. California Golden Bear always.
Washington, DC, USA

Ryan Abraham

Washington Council, Principal Ernst & Young LLP
Providing tailored strategies to help clients navigate Washington, DC. Former Senate staff. Montana native. Capitals fan. Thankful father and husband.
Washington, DC, USA

Heather Meade

Principal, Washington Council, Ernst & Young LLP
WCEY health care principal, health & tax-exempt policy, former Congressional staffer, recovering ERISA attorney, coalition builder, teacher of civics and math through games. Sideline soccer fan.
Washington, DC, USA

Heather Bell

Manager, Washington Council, Ernst & Young LLP
Health policy wonk aiming to distill the regulatory and legislative environment. Former health system executive strategist and editor of daily health care newsletter. Hiker, traveler, storyteller.
 

Tara Bradshaw

Executive Director in Washington Council Ernst & Young
Change maker. Story teller. Passionate about helping clients achieve their policy goals through strategic communications.
Washington, DC, USA

Rebecca Burch

Executive Director, Washington Council Ernst & Young
As a working mother to three boys, having a successful career and traveling with my boys is what I enjoy the most.
 

Jessica Cameron

Washington Council Ernst & Young Senior
Former House leadership and Ways and Means Committee staffer. Proud double Bruin in the nation’s capital.
Washington, DC, USA

Wes Coulam

Washington Council Ernst & Young LLP Managing Director
Passionate about helping clients succeed in engaging with the government. Enjoys sports, nature and family outings with his wife and children.
Washington, DC, USA

Laura Dillon

Senior Manager, Washington Council, Ernst & Young LLP
Health policy wonk. Former health system best practice researcher, global and mental health advocate. Avid hiker, biker and wayfarer.
Washington, DC, USA

Adam Francis

Washington Council, Principal Ernst & Young LLP
Connected professional helping clients navigate the inner workings of the federal policy process. Maine native, former lobsterman. Glass-half-full attitude.
Washington, DC, USA

Francis Grab

Washington Council Ernst & Young LLP Principal
Tax principal in Washington, DC, focused on tax and trade policy issues. Passionate about teaming in order to best serve our clients. Avid tennis player, will read anything I can get my hands on.
Washington, DC, USA

Evan Giesemann

Manager, Washington Council, Ernst & Young LLP
Former Congressional staffer with a passion for collaboration across the public and private sectors. Wisconsinite in DC. Dog dad.
Washington, DC, USA

Will Heyniger

Senior Manager, Ernst & Young LLP, National Tax and Washington Council
Financial services legislative and regulatory analyst based in DC. 16 years at WCEY. Former journalist, advocate and PR manager. Writer, drummer, frisbee player, dad. Redskins fan.
Washington, DC, USA

John Porter

Senior Manager, Ernst & Young LLP
Former Bush Administration staffer, grateful husband, proud Texan and weekend track and field participant
Washington, DC, USA

Jeff Levey

Washington Council Ernst & Young, Managing Director
Avid skier, cyclist and wine connoisseur. Devoted girl dad — his girls are his entire world.
Washington, DC, USA

Kurt Ritterpusch

EY Northeast National Tax Senior Manager
Former reporter. Proud dad. Drum and motorcycle enthusiast.
Washington, DC, USA

Bob Schellhas

Principal, Ernst & Young LLP, Washington Council
Federal government affairs consulting practice. Believes it’s important to “remember where you come from” and give back to our communities.
Washington, DC, USA

Lauren Rubin

Manager, Ernst & Young LLP, Washington Council
Former congressional aide with a focus on tax policy and interest in the innovation economy.
Washington, DC, USA

Samantha Schwarz

Senior, Washington Council Ernst & Young
American with an Australian accent who runs marathons for fun.
Washington, DC, USA

Our latest thinking

CFOs can look to tax functions to help navigate economic uncertainty

CFOs looking to navigate today’s economic uncertainty should consider including their tax functions in overall business planning.

Kevin Flynn

Inflation Reduction Act boosts IRS funding for enforcement and modernization

Inflation Reduction Act boosts IRS funding for enforcement and modernization with over half of the funding is designated for enforcement.

Bryon Christensen

Inflation Reduction Act has state corporate income tax implications

Corporate income tax implications under IRA - a few states automatically, or may in the future, conform to the new corporate alternative minimum tax.

Scott Roberti

Guidance issued on which vehicles qualify for EV credits under the IRA

Which vehicles qualify for EV credits under the IRA - The requirement that qualifying vehicles have final assembly in North America has immediate effect.

Mike Bernier

Overview of the Inflation Reduction Act’s 15% corporate minimum tax on book income

An overview of Inflation Reduction Act’s 15% corporate minimum tax on book income.

Colleen O’Neill
    Contact us
    Like what you’ve seen? Get in touch to learn more.

    EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.