Thomas Daschle: “when people become doctors they take the Hippocratic oath which, among other things, instructs them to ``First, do no…”

“when people become doctors they take the Hippocratic oath which, among other things, instructs them to ``First, do no harm.'' Maybe our Nation's leaders in Washington need to take a similar oath if they intend to operate on the economy. Sadly, our friends in the Republican Party are steadfast in their insistence that we enact legislation that would harm our economy. Their plan takes more than $200 billion out of Social Security and uses it mostly for tax breaks for wealthy individuals and profitable corporations. It will do little to stimulate the economy, and even less for the millions of newly unemployed Americans. Their plan will not make the recession better, but it will make the deficit worse. This impasse is regrettable--and it was completely avoidable. Immediately after September 11, it became clear that the attacks dealt our economy--which already was slowing--a devastating blow. We all agreed--Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate--that America needed an economic recovery plan.”