A healthcare repeal vote expected today will send a highly symbolic political message — the icing on the midterm elections that gave Republicans control of the House — but the GOP's effort to undermine the rollout of the contentious measure and put its own imprint on healthcare will probably hinge on smaller attempts to change the law. The complete legislative repeal that House Republicans are promising to pass today is all but doomed, because the Democrats who still control the Senate have said they will not approve it. Even if a repeal did emerge from Congress, President Obama would veto it. So Republicans are already looking at an alternative course.
