House postpones healthcare vote after attack on Giffords

House Republicans are postponing a vote to repeal the healthcare law scheduled for next week after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) in Arizona.

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said in a statement late Saturday that “all legislation currently scheduled to be considered by the House of Representatives next week is being postponed so that we can take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today’s tragedy.”

“Further information relating to a revised House schedule will be released tomorrow,” Cantor added.

He said he had spoken with leaders of both parties before making the decision.

The House was scheduled to vote on the healthcare repeal bill on Wednesday. That was the only major piece of legislation scheduled for the week. The House had planned to debate the bill Tuesday, and is scheduled to be out of session Monday.

"In light of yesterday's tragedy, our focus has changed," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) "Fox News Sunday." "We're focused on what happened in Arizona, and we need to make sure that we are responding appropriately to that tragedy before we get involved in the legislative business of Congress."

McMorris Rogers denied that delaying the healthcare vote was a result of the threats against members that were tied to the legislation.

"We are just taking some more time," she said. "The repeal of healthcare is a top priority for the new majority in Congress."

"I want to applaud the Republican leadership for doing what they've done in this instance to give everybody a chance to step back, and take a hard look at this and decide how they go forward," said Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who serves as assistant minority leader, said on Fox News Sunday. "I don't think they won."

This post was updated at 12:50 p.m. Sunday