Boehner ally LaTourette joins lobby firm

Former Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) is heading to K Street. 

The nine-term congressman, who was a strong ally of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) in the House, will head up a new lobbying and government relations services subsidiary of the law firm McDonald Hopkins in Washington. 

The ex-lawmaker will be president of McDonald Hopkins Government Strategies and will be joined by his wife, Jennifer LaTourette, who will be vice president for the new practice. She is a former House and Senate aide and was vice president of one of K Street’s top firms, Van Scoyoc Associates.

“This is a natural move for McDonald Hopkins, building upon our state-level advocacy practices, and is a great opportunity for us to work with Steve and Jennifer LaTourette,” said Carl J. Grassi, president of McDonald Hopkins, in a statement. “Establishing a formal Washington presence built around these outstanding professionals continues the steady growth and expansion of our firm. Among their efforts, Steve and Jennifer will be available to work with our state-level government affairs practice to enhance our ability to serve the needs of our clients.”

{mosads}The firm notes in its announcement of LaTourette’s hire that he was a member of the House Appropriations Committee and “had become one of Speaker John Boehner’s closest colleagues in the House.”

“I firmly believe in the moderate and constructive values that I represented in Congress and intend to continue representing those values on behalf of clients whose interests are impacted by the actions of our government,” LaTourette said in a statement. “Moreover, Jennifer and I greatly respect the quality of lawyers at McDonald Hopkins and their ability to provide insightful counsel. Opening a Washington office for McDonald Hopkins appeals to the entrepreneurial spirit that Jennifer and I share.”

The revolving door between Capitol Hill to K Street is expected to spin with more ex-lawmakers following LaTourette this year. 

Several lawmakers from the 112th Congress — including former Reps. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) — have already found jobs in the influence industry. Another lawmaker, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), has announced she will retire next month for a job with The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

— This story was updated at 11:18 a.m.