Mr. Ben McMakin

Council Member Biography

Ben L. McMakin is Senior Director of Governmental Issues at Van Ness Feldman in Washington, DC, where he lobbies on an array of issues including appropriations, transportation, defense, international trade, technology, and homeland security. Previously, he served as the Legislative Director for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the senior Senator from Washington and a member of the Senate Democratic leadership team. In this position, Mr. McMakin developed and implemented the legislative agenda, including all of her work at the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee where she serves as the ranking Democrat. Furthermore, he worked extensively with the staffs and members of the Defense, Energy and Water, Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Labor HHS, and Education subcommittees to successfully fund projects and programs of importance to the Pacific Northwest and the country. Before that, Mr. McMakin served as Legislative Director for Representative Ron Wyden (D-OR), where he worked on the 1996 Telecommunications Act as it was considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He also served from 1991 to 1994 as Legislative Director for Representative Mike Kopetski (D-OR), where he managed the Representative’s work at the House Ways and Means Committee on such issues as international trade, tax, and health care. (This is me - Update Profile)

Employment History

2005 - Unspecified

Principal, Governmental Issues, VAN NESS FELDMAN, PC