With repeal still on the table, health debate detente expected to be temporary

Although GOP interest in turning back the health law remains strong, lawmakers' face the challenge of tempering some of their rhetoric in the wake of the Tucson shootings. Meanwhile, people on both sides of the aisle say this "timeout" is likely to be only temporary.  

The Hill: Healthcare Truce Likely To Be Short
Both sides in the bitter health care debate say their truce over the controversial law is only temporary. Republicans say they will soon renew their efforts to repeal the law, while supporters say their timeout from publicly arguing against repeal will run out as soon as the House brings its bill back to the floor (Pecquet, 1/10).

CQ HealthBeat: Seen Affecting Timing, Not Substance, Of Health Care Law Repeal Efforts
The shootings in Arizona Saturday are not expected to affect the policy provisions in GOP legislative proposals to repeal and later to revise the health overhaul law, current and former Republican aides said Monday (Reichard, 1/10).

Bloomberg: Republicans To Temper Health-Law Repeal Rhetoric After Giffords Shooting
Republicans in Congress eager to vote to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law face a delicate task in tempering their rhetoric after the Arizona shooting rampage that killed six people and critically injured U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. House Republicans delayed a vote planned for tomorrow on rolling back the health-care overhaul while Giffords, a 40-year-old Democrat, is being treated in a Tucson hospital. When they turn back to the health law Republicans will focus on moderating their tone, strategists said, in contrast with some lawmakers' stronger language from last year's campaign (Davis and Lerer, 1/11).

The Hill: CBO's Repeal Score Throws GOP Defunding Strategy Into Question
Congressional budget scorekeepers' cost estimate last week of a bill to repeal health care reform is raising new doubts about the GOP's ability to defund it (Pecquet, 1/10).