Wendell Primus is the Senior Policy Advisor on Budget and Health issues to Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  In that capacity, he was the lead staffer in developing the Affordable Care Act.  He also played a major role in the SGR legislation in 2015 and various budget agreements.  Prior to this appointment in March, 2005, Dr. Primus was the Minority Staff Director at the Joint Economic Committee. He has also held positions at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, served in the Clinton Administration at the Department of Health and Human Services and also served as Chief Economist for the House Ways and Means Committee and Staff Director for the Committee's Subcommittee on Human Resources.  Dr. Primus received his Ph.D. in economics from Iowa State University