The GOP's health-care repeal: Tactless timing?
With the nation craving civility after the Arizona shootings, should House Republicans be pushing the divisive health-reform repeal bill?

After a delay due to the Arizona shooting tragedy, Republican leaders plan to begin debating the bill to repeal health-care reform next week. "As the White House noted, it is important for Congress to get back to work," said Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). But with bipartisan calls for greater civility in American politics, is this the best time for the GOP to press such a potentially divisive issue? (Watch an MSNBC discussion about health care battle)
Pushing repeal could make the GOP look bad: Republicans are in a bind, says Kathleen Hennessy in the Los Angeles Times. They will "infuriate" their voters if they don't keep their promise to pass repeal in the House. But they must do it without rekindling the "political rancor" that has defined the health-care debate from the start. Otherwise, in the wake of the Arizona shooting attack that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) critically wounded, the GOP will appear "tone deaf to pleas to reject overheated rhetoric."
"GOP in a bind over healthcare repeal vote"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The GOP is right to get back to work: "The GOP is not in a 'bind' over this," says Moe Lane in RedState. House Republicans merely need to treat the issue with the "delicacy and tact" required in these "genuinely unique and trying circumstances." Of course, no matter how gingerly Republicans handle repeal, "the Other Side is going to start howling" the minute the Republican majority resumes the debate, but that's no reason to leave the nation's business unfinished.
"The L.A. Times is 'worried' on our behalf!"
The Republican can — and should — make one simple concession: Republicans are right about one thing, says Ezra Klein in The Washington Post. "Nothing about the tragedy in Tucson makes the health-care law any better, any worse or any less worthy of further debate." But if they really want to "resume thoughtful consideration," they can prove they mean it by changing the bill's "uncivil" name. "The Repealing the Job-Killing Health-Care Law Act" oozes hostility — plus, it's not even true.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The best shows to see at Edinburgh Fringe 2025
The Week Recommends The world's biggest arts festival is back with an incredible line-up
-
Wonsan-Kalma: North Korea's new 'mammoth' beach resort
Under the Radar Pyongyang wants to boost tourism but there won't be many foreign visitors to Kim Jong Un's 'pet project'
-
The 5 best TV reboots of all time
The Week Recommends Finding an entirely new cast to play beloved characters is harder than it looks
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: which party are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?