Billy Tauzin
| Billy Tauzin | |
|---|---|
 |
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| President & CEO of PhRMA | |
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In office January, 2005 – August, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Holmer |
| Succeeded by | John J. Castellani |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 3rd district |
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In office May 22, 1980 – January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | David Treen |
| Succeeded by | Charlie Melancon |
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wilbert Joseph Tauzin II June 14, 1943 Chackbay, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party |
Democratic (1972–1995) Republican (1995–present) |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Gayle Clement Tauzin (2) Cecile Bergeron |
| Profession | Politician, lawyer, lobbyist |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Wilbert Joseph "Billy" Tauzin II (IPA: ['bɪli 'toʊzɛ̃]; born June 14, 1943) is an American lobbyist and politician. He was President and CEO of PhRMA, a pharmaceutical company lobby group. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1980 to 2005, representing Louisiana's 3rd congressional district.
Of Cajun descent, he is a lifelong resident of Chackbay, a small town just outside Thibodaux, Tauzin graduated from Nicholls State University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and earned a law degree from Louisiana State University in 1967. While attending law school, he served as a legislative aide in the Louisiana state Senate.
He is married to Cecile Tauzin and has five children by a previous marriage.
Tauzin began his elective career in 1972, when he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and served four full terms as a Democrat. In his first term, he served alongside fellow Democrats Dick Guidry and Leonard J. Chabert. In 1979, David C. Treen, U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 3rd congressional district, the first Republican congressman from Louisiana since Reconstruction, was elected as the state's first Republican governor in more than a century. Treen resigned his House seat on March 10, 1980. Tauzin won a special election for the seat on May 17 and was sworn into office on May 22, just five months after winning a fifth term in the state house. He won the congressional race by seven points. Tauzin defeated Democratic State Senator Anthony Guarisco, Jr., of Morgan City and another Democrat-turned-Republican: Jim Donelon of Jefferson Parish. Tauzin then won a full term in November 1980, with 85 percent of the vote against minimal opposition.
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