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Article snippet: WASHINGTON — The new Republican tax proposal is arguably the pinnacle of Paul D. Ryan’s legislative career, the culmination of years spent in the wonky trenches of conservative think tanks and esoteric congressional budget and tax debates. It could be a legacy-defining achievement for Mr. Ryan, the self-proclaimed “policy guy” who only reluctantly took the helm of the House in 2015 and found himself in that most political of positions as speaker. It could also be a colossal disaster that imperils Republican control of the House, threatens Mr. Ryan’s reputation and position and leaves his party without a noteworthy legislative achievement despite control of Congress and the White House. “I’m not going to let that happen,” Mr. Ryan said in an interview on Thursday for The New York Times podcast “The New Washington,” dismissing the mere thought of failure. “We’ve got to get it done.” [How to listen: If you don’t see an audio player on this page, or if you would like to subscribe to “The New Washington” at no charge, follow the instructions at the end of this article.] Everything is on the line for Mr. Ryan and his fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill as they embark on a push to enact the most ambitious tax overhaul in three decades by the end of the year. Their bill would affect virtually every taxpayer in the country, dropping the top corporate tax to 20 percent from 35 percent and delivering more modest cuts for many families through changes to the tax brackets and ... Link to the full article to read more