So now the chamber is on altogether new course, focusing on just what it thinks are the most offensive provisions of the law.

"In 2014, we will work to repeal onerous health care taxes; repeal, delay, or change the employer mandate; and give companies and their employees more flexibility in the choice of health insurance plans," chamber President Thomas Donohue said. 

The chamber's reasons for pushing this fight make plenty of business sense.

"It's a massive tax bill. It's a massive rules-and-regulations system. And lots of people are worried about how they are going to get their health care," Donohue said.

One change to Obamacare that deserves unquestionable support would restore the definition of full-time workers to those who put in 40 hours a week, rather than those who work 30 hours or more.

But even that modest change – let alone the employer mandate and some of the other more problematic provisions of the law – is unlikely to get through Congress this year.

In part, that's because while even President Obama has indicated some willingness to make some changes, many in the GOP remain committed to attempting nothing short of repeal of the entire law.

Moreover, we're in an election year, and very little ever gets done at a time when lawmakers are working so hard and being so careful to win re-election.

By the way, what do Republican lawmakers think might happen if they somehow get the law repealed? For as unpopular as the law might be among many, a lot of voters are certain to be upset if the exchanges closed and their policies (and subsidies) were canceled.

In other words, there's no upside for GOP members of Congress to push the chamber's agenda very hard, and without the GOP's help, very little chance the chamber gets any part of the PPACA undone.