Social Issues

3_6_2014_conservatives-118201.jpg

House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. speaks at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, March 6, 2014. Ryan said GOP leaders and conservative activists should "give each other the benefit of the doubt" in the debate over the party's future. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

3_6_2014_conservatives-98201.jpg

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, walks onto the stage holding a gun before speaking at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference in National Harbor, Md., Thursday. (Associated Press)

3_6_2014_dsc-2213-28201.jpg

Positive Thinking: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rallies activists Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference with a battle call for leadership in Washington. "We can't govern if we can't win," he said, walking offstage to a standing ovation. (Lloyd Villas/The Washington Times)

3_6_2014_conservatives-48201.jpg

At a Crossroads: Sen. Ted Cruz (left) of Texas, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (center) and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida are among the conference speakers grappling with the question of how to govern while sticking to conservative principles. (Associated Press)

ed4fb03007fc9e094d0f6a706700936c.jpg

Donna Lowery puts on her makeup at the Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital on Feb. 14, 2014 in Corpus Christi, Texas. She said that learning how to do things like put her makeup on means that she takes a task away from someone else. (AP Photo/Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Rachel Denny Clow)

ff6e51f54b40b8094d0f6a706700c568.jpg

Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, answers questions from reporters following a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on religious liberties and gay marriage issues, Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Wagle says the Senate will not take up "religious freedom" legislation this year. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

998d97b72c50b7094d0f6a706700d2db.jpg

Kansas Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Eric Stafford follows a Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on religious liberties and gay marriage issues, Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The chamber's opposition helped stall a House bill that critics said would lead to widespread discrimination against gays and lesbians. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

35cb80f12c50b7094d0f6a706700b4f6.jpg

Kansas state Sen. Greg Smith, an Overland Park Republican, asks a question during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gay marriage and religious liberties issues, Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The committee has heard conflicting testimony on whether Kansas needs more legal protections for gay-marriage opponents if the federal courts invalidate the state's ban on same-sex marriage. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

ec2d4a6a2c4eb7094d0f6a7067005a99.jpg

Helen Alvare, left, a George Mason University law professor, confers with Michael Schuttloffel, right, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, during a Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on religious liberties and gay marriage issues, Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Alvare says Kansas needs more religious liberties protections for gay-marriage opponents in case the federal courts strike down the state's ban on gay marriage. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

c542ca8b2c39b7094d0f6a706700d0e6.jpg

Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, right, a Wichita Republican, joins members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing on whether the state needs additional legal protections for people, groups and businesses opposing gay marriage, Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. The other senators are, right to left, Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat; Garrett Love, a Montezuma Republican, and Forrest Knox, an Altoona Republican. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

3_6_2014_boehner-obama8201.jpg

House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, said Rep. Darrell Issa was within his rights to end Wednesday's oversight committee hearing after former IRS employee Lois G. Lerner refused to answer questions about the tax agency's tea party targeting. (associated press)

177720c52c01b6094d0f6a70670073ae.jpg

Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, listens to discussion about the state budget in a meeting of the Joint Budget Committee at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Thursday, March 6, 2014. Arkansas lawmakers advanced a plan Thursday to tap nearly $22 million from the surplus to pay for the prison system, school broadband and other one-time needs as they finalized legislation outlining the state’s $5 billion budget for the coming year. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)