Tauzin Consultants snags senior lobbyist

Former congressional staffer and established lobbyist John Blount has joined Tauzin Consultants.

Blount started work for Tauzin in January, and brought six clients along with him from Capitol Hill Consulting Group, where he had worked as senior vice president.

{mosads}“John Blount is great addition to our small yet growing business. His extensive experience on and off the Hill strengthens Tauzin Consultants and the services we provide immeasurably,” Tauzin Consultants said in a statement to The Hill.

“We very much look forward to including such a senior legislative expert within our ranks.”

Blount had been with Capitol Hill Consulting Group since 2007. He confirmed to The Hill that six of his clients — DBA International, SCAN Health Plan, GSM Integrated Controls USA, the Committee to Save Independent HME Suppliers, the Industrial Safety Training Council and the Bituminous Coal Operators Association — followed him to the new firm. 

Capitol Hill Consulting Group recently filed termination reports for those clients. 

Tauzin Consultants is the new lobbying venture of former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), who retired from politics in 2005 and became the president and CEO of PhRMA, the top lobbying group for the drug industry. After leaving PhRMA in 2010, he co-founded Tauzin Consultants with his son, Thomas Tauzin. 

Thomas Tauzin also previously worked for Capitol Hill Consulting Group.

Blount served as a senior aide to three Republican members of the House during his time on Capitol Hill, including the late Rep. Bill Emerson (R-Mo.). He has also worked for the National Association of Realtors, where he lobbied for a decade. 

This isn’t the first time some of his clients have stuck with Blount. The Industrial Safety Training Council has followed him through several firms, and the Bituminous Coal Operators Association has worked with him since 1999.

Capitol Hill Consulting Group did not provide a statement on Blount’s departure.