Not only are many of the tea party candidates backing away from their anti-spending roots, but there's this, too:
More than a few Republicans know that while the politics of trying to nitpick provisions and curb funding are appealing, any wholesale repeal of major provisions of the health care overhaul is likely to generate a backlash.
Even the Republican-leaning electorate on Nov. 2 was evenly split on repealing Obamacare, the exit polls showed. And many of the major provisions of the bill command broad support or could expose critics and repeal advocates to embarrassing contradictions.
I'd love to see the Republicans try to repeal the subsidies in the exchange. Tell middle class families that they'll have to pay an extra $10,000 on annual premiums. That's a winner. But they won't do it. Healthcare reform will not be repealed. Ever. It will only be augmented as we go.