Former Treasury Tax Appointee Ron Storhaug Joins Cornerstone

Firm adds former Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary with expertise in tax, trade, financial services, banking and small business ahead of 2025 tax debate

Cornerstone Government Affairs announced Thursday the addition of Ron Storhaug, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax and Budget at the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Legislative Affairs, to its federal government relations team effective December 1, 2024. With nearly 15 years of experience in federal tax and economic policy, Storhaug will join the firm's growing tax practice, now anchored by bipartisan, bicameral professionals with Committee, Member, and Agency tax-writing experience looking toward the 2025 tax debate; Ron will also strengthen the firm's work in trade, financial services, banking and small business.

"After nearly 15 years of experience working on Capitol Hill, the executive branch and the private sector, I'm excited to bring my experience working on tax policy and other key economic policy issues with Democrats and Republicans to Cornerstone," Storhaug said. "I'm looking forward to working with this talented and dedicated team to help clients navigate the vast opportunities and challenges ahead."

Storhaug's most recent governmental role was an appointment within the Biden-Harris Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Tax and Budget within the Treasury Department's Office of Legislative Affairs. In this role, he provided strategic leadership and guidance on domestic and international tax policy and legislative matters to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, senior officials and other key Department stakeholders. In his role, he served as a key policy and legislative advisor on priority initiatives including Inflation Reduction Act implementation, the OECD's Two-Pillar international tax project, Internal Revenue Service funding and policy priorities, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act implementation and CHIPS and Science Act implementation. As part of these responsibilities, Storhaug was responsible for representing the Treasury Department with Congressional committee, leadership, and member office staff, analyzing legislative and policy impacts of proposed tax legislation and regulations and collaborating with the White House, federal agencies, congressional Members and staff and external stakeholders to advance key tax policy objectives.

Previously, Storhaug served as the Director of Tax and Economic Policy for the Office of senior Senate Finance Committee Member Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), acting as the Senator's principal policy advisor on taxation, international trade, retirement, financial services and the economy. Concurrently, Storhaug served as senior staff of the Senate Small Business Committee Democratic staff. In these roles, Storhaug helped lead and coordinate legislative efforts that contributed to the Inflation Reduction Act, SECURE 2.0 retirement policy legislation, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, including the Paycheck Protection Program, and many other tax and international trade policies.

His time on Capitol Hill also included serving as the Senior Economic Policy Advisor for Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), providing advice and analysis on taxation, retirement, international trade, financial services, budget and small business issues. Storhaug also helped develop and advance Sen. Kaine's legislative priorities during consideration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Trade Promotion Authority, Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, Bipartisan Budget Acts and numerous congressional budget resolutions.

Early in his career, he also served on the Senate Budget Committee Democratic staff under Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND).

In addition to his governmental experience, Storhaug also served at Deloitte & Touche LLP as an Enterprise Risk Services Consultant, developing, deploying and improving operational and enterprise risk management programs at numerous public companies and government clients.

"We are thrilled to be adding Ron and his significant expertise, broad bipartisan relationships and excellent reputation to the team," Cornerstone CEO Geoff Gonella said. "He will add immediate value to our existing clients and help us expand our growing tax, trade and financial services capabilities in 2025 and beyond."

Storhaug graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Minors in Business Administration and Music.