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.

Related topics
Tax
Tax planning
Trust
Health
Financial services
Global trade

What WCEY 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.

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

Ray Beeman

Leader of Washington Council Ernst & Young

How EY can help

Explore 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

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

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

Health care regulatory insights

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

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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

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.

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dc dynamics

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.

 
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This Week in Health Policy

Each week, we highlight the latest health policy developments.
 
 
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Navigating change in the nation’s capital

Washington Council Ernst & Young
 
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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, DC, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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, United States

Tommy Brown

Manager, Washington Council Ernst & Young
Midwesterner. Tax nerd. Former Capitol Hill and Treasury staffer. National Parks bucket-lister. Toddler dad.
Washington, DC, DC, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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, United States

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, United States

Evan Giesemann

Senior 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, United States

Blake Harden

Managing Director, Washington Council Ernst & Young, Ernst & Young LLP
Trade policy devotee and pragmatic solutions enthusiast. Former House Ways and Means Committee staffer and CBP attorney. Proud mom of two. Native Michigander and Michigan State Spartan. Hockey fan.
Washington, DC, United States

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, United States

John Porter

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

Kurt Ritterpusch

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

Bill Rys

Executive Director, Washington Council Ernst & Young, Ernst & Young LLP
Tax policy and corporate government relations professional. Former House staffer. Avid Pittsburgh sports fan.
Washington, DC, United States

Samantha Schwarz

Manager, Washington Council Ernst & Young
American with an Australian accent who runs marathons for fun.
Washington, DC, United States

Lisa Wolski

Managing Director, Washington Council Ernst & Young
Deep corporate tax policy experience. Former Senate leadership staffer. Strong believer in teamwork. Avid golfer.
Washington, DC, DC, United States

Our latest thinking

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Five policy areas to watch in the House-passed tax bill

Key business, energy, and international tax changes to monitor as Senate deliberations begin.

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The administration unveils reciprocal and universal tariffs.

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Pathways to budget reconciliation in 2025

Republicans control the Senate and House, meaning they can proceed with their plans for a budget reconciliation bill anchored by TCJA extensions.

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Expiration and change dates of various tax provisions may increase focus on tax policy

Several tax provisions are scheduled to sunset or change over the next few years, which may be a focus in an election year.

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Steps companies should take now to prepare for major tax legislation in 2025

Companies should prioritize their tax planning, advocacy, and modeling now to effectively navigate anticipated major tax legislation in 2025

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2025 GOP trifecta: Trump's return, TCJA and other tax reforms

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State tax policy: potential impacts of the 2024 election

Results of the US elections are expected to impact state fiscal conditions and tax policy decisions in the years ahead.

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Outcome of US presidential election will impact trade and tariffs

The outcome of the 2024 election is pivotal to global trade and could have a significant impact on trade policies, global partnerships, tariff structures.

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Five tax issues to watch heading into 2025

The party that wins in November 2024, may lead to big changes in the tax code. Read about what the tax cliff means and what is expiring in 2025.

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Budget reconciliation basics

Budget reconciliation allows 51-vote Senate passage of revenue and spending bills under certain parameters.

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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.

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

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

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

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