Paul Ryan begins a make-or-break push for tax legislation -- and his future
By Paul Kane October 28 at 12:24 PM
Paul D. Ryan has drifted a long way from the soaring rhetoric he delivered on his first day as House speaker. “Nothing could be more inspiring than a job well done,” he said after claiming the gavel. “Nothing could stir the heart more than real, concrete results.”
Now, the Wisconsin Republican is more likely to sound like a hardened realist, cracking jokes about how little gets done — and even poking fun at himself. As the guest speaker at a black-tie gala Wednesday, Ryan exhorted the media to “keep your heads up” despite poor approval ratings. “It could be a whole lot worse,” he said. “They could be my approval ratings.”
Exactly two years ago Sunday, on Oct. 29, 2015, Ryan, then 45, succeeded Republican John A. Boehner of Ohio, then 65, with an aura of generational change — and a promise of policy-focused leadership. So far, he hasn’t delivered. Even after Republicans claimed control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue in January, Ryan is still searching for a signature achievement. His enemies and allies alike say he needs a big win, soon.
The coming week brings what may shape up as his last, best chance to achieve one — and the most important moment of his 19-year congressional career: the debut of legislation to rewrite the tax code.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/paul-ryan-begins-a-make-or-break-push-for-tax-legislation--and-his-future/2017/10/28/c5205140-bb3e-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html
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