Paul Davis Ryan: A Republican Speaker and Fiscal Conservative Born January 29, 1970, Paul Ryan served as the 54th Speaker of the US House of Representatives (2015-2019). A Wisconsin native and Republican, his political career began after a stint in Washington D.C. and his family's construction business. Elected to Congress in 1998, he represented his district for two decades. Ryan’s career highlights include chairing the House Budget Committee (2011-2015) and briefly the House Ways and Means Committee (2015). A self-described fiscal conservative, he championed Social Security privatization and authored influential policy proposals like "The Path to Prosperity" and "A Better Way," advocating for Medicare privatization, Medicaid block grants, Affordable Care Act repeal, and substantial tax cuts. As Speaker, he oversaw the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017) and the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (2018), partially rolling back the Dodd-Frank Act. He declined re-election in 2018, succeeded by Nancy Pelosi. Ryan's legacy is defined by his fiscal conservatism and his significant role in shaping Republican policy during a period of divided government.