“I don't want to get into the 'who's a hostage-taker' discussion here, but what is the estate tax? It's a double tax on death. Economists will tell you that it's really not a tax that soaks the rich, but it's a tax on capital that deprives business investment and therefore job creation.”

Paul Ryan is an American politician from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He served as the 54th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and was known for his role in crafting fiscal policy, particularly budget proposals emphasizing entitlement reform and tax cuts. His political career spanned leadership in the House Republican Conference and as a prominent voice in conservative economic discourse.