Tracy Spicer

Tracy Spicer is known throughout the nation’s Capitol for her wealth of Democratic political experience and creative thinking.  She is a partner at Avenue Solutions, a Washington, DC based government relations firm which provides strategic legislative, policy and political expertise.

Ms. Spicer draws on her vast political and legislative experience to assist clients in navigating their way through the labyrinth of Capitol Hill.  Her longstanding relationships and political acumen help clients head off obstacles and strategize toward successful solutions.

In recent years, Ms. Spicer has focused on the healthcare arena and has played an integral role in some of the most prominent healthcare policy debates on Capitol Hill including: comprehensive healthcare reform efforts, Medicare and Medicaid initiatives, healthcare information technology, mental health parity, genetic non-discrimination, efforts to cover the uninsured, small business health reform, and safe and affordable prescription drug coverage.

Ms. Spicer is a veteran of Washington with extensive experience in political campaigns and on Capitol Hill.  She was longtime aide to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, rising to Political Director and Deputy Chief of Staff by the end of her tenure.  During that time, she coordinated federal political and legislative priorities, spearheaded communications and crisis management and developed strategic political and legislative initiatives.

Ms. Spicer also spent significant time away from the federal government running successful political campaigns.  Her political work included building and managing relationships with elected officials, community groups, businesses and coalitions to find creative solutions to complex problems.

Ms. Spicer is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.

Media Coverage:
"Best in the Business," Top Lobbyists, May 15, 2009. Click here to read

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Amy C. Tejral

Amy Tejral brings over a decade of experience in federal and state government relations.  She is a partner at Avenue Solutions, a Washington, DC based government relations firm which provides strategic legislative, policy and political expertise.

Ms. Tejral served as Legislative Director for Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson for nearly five years.  As LD, she oversaw the development and implementation of the Senator’s legislative agenda, with specific areas of focus including a pro-business agenda, education, appropriations, and judiciary issues.  She coordinated the Senator’s work on the Senate Commerce, Agriculture, and Armed Services Committees.  Ms. Tejral also served as Senator Nelson’s liaison with the Senate Centrist Coalition and other bipartisan efforts such as the “Gang of 14” which were critical during a time of a closely divided senate.

Ms. Tejral had the honor of working for Senator Nelson during his tenure as Governor of Nebraska.  She served as Education Policy Advisor in the Governor’s Policy Research Office in 1996-97.  She served as the Governor’s education liaison to the Nebraska Department of Education as well as the Western and National Governors Associations. 

In 1996, Governor Nelson along with Governor Mike Leavitt of Utah and Governor Roy Romer of Colorado co-founded Western Governors University (WGU).  After her service in the Nelson Administration, Ms. Tejral served as Director of University Affairs for WGU for four years during the Leavitt Administration in Salt Lake City, Utah.  During this time she handled public relations, coordination of state relations with 19 member states and territories, and oversight of the WGU Board of Trustees and National Advisory Board.

Prior to her work in the United States Senate, Ms. Tejral worked for Don Wesely, Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska rounding out her government and public policy experience at the local, state and federal levels.     

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Elizabeth Barnett

Elizabeth Barnett joined Avenue Solutions in February 2009 as Vice President after two years as a lead Democratic lobbyist for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and nearly eight years of Capitol Hill experience in the office of U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).  Ms. Barnett brings a wealth of political and legislative experience to this all-female, all-Democratic firm.

Ms. Barnett knows firsthand the role the private sector plays in public policy.  At the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Ms. Barnett had primary responsibility for representing BCBSA and its 39 member plans before the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Democratic Leadership, and other key Senate committees and offices.  She was also the lead strategist on several priority issues, including Medicare Advantage, comparative effectiveness research, S-CHIP, and efforts to cover the uninsured.

Ms. Barnett has a deep understanding of Capitol Hill.  Beginning in 2001, she served as the principal health care policy advisor to U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, when the Senator became a member of the Senate Finance Committee.  In this capacity, Ms. Barnett developed and managed the Senator’s healthcare and social policy agenda, which included writing legislation, creating and implementing legislative strategies, and serving as her chief negotiator on priority legislation, including the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.   Ms. Barnett also served as the Senator’s speechwriter.

A true veteran of the Washington political process, Ms. Barnett has held several other key positions both on and off Capitol Hill.  Prior to joining Senator Lincoln’s staff, Ms. Barnett held a research position at EMILY’s List and a position at the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources under the leadership of U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR).  A native of southern Maryland, Ms. Barnett’s tenure in Washington, DC began with an internship with U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

Ms. Barnett has a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Washington College.

Media Coverage:
"Lobby Shops," National Journal, Dec. 13, 2008. Click here to read