Altmire: shooting affects everybody

Jason Altmire is the lead voice in a Washington Post story today saying debate will re-start on health care reform repeal next week, though some wonder what the atmosphere will be like after the shooting of congresswoman Gabrielle Gifforts:

As Giffords recovers in a Tucson hospital, many of her colleagues in Washington said they plan to change the tone in the House, a body that has served as the epicenter of caustic political debate for the past 20 years.

"It doesn't mean the issues go away, it doesn't mean that the positions on those issues change, but yes, this is going to affect everybody," said Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.).

Altmire is on the record against repeal, even though he voted against the health package last year. That's brought the heat from the right wing (ie, Fox News). It's also drawing the ire of the conservative Heritage Foundation, which released a statement yesterday about Altmire and fellow Blue Dog Democrat Tim Holden:

Yet, last Friday (1/7), they voted against a procedural motion to set up a debate on repealing the law in its entirety.  Are they now in favor of the law?

They withstood the conservative electoral tidal wave in November because of their opposition to the law.  They understood the law harms doctors, patients, small businesses and families.  Now, they have an opportunity to undo those changes.