Social Issues

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**FILE** Guided missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton is docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Aug. 8, 2013. Sailors aboard the ship spoke with the U.S. Pacific Fleet's top enlisted officer about the military-wide problem of sexual assault. Top U.S. Navy commanders in the Asia-Pacific region have formed a task force to discuss sexual assault issues as the branch fights to stem a military-wide problem within its ranks. Leaders in the U.S. Pacific Fleet from all over its wide territory met by teleconference this week for the first time to outline how they'll share successes and failures during monthly meetings. (Associated Press)

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Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jerrel Revels proposes Monday to his boyfriend, Dylan Kirchner, as the USS New Mexico is docked at Groton, Conn. Gay spouses of service members and Pentagon civilians will begin receiving military benefits by Sept. 3. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Members of immigration rights organizations, including Casa in Action and Maryland Dream Act, demonstrate Nov. 8, 2012, in front of the White House as they call on President Obama to fulfill his promise of passing comprehensive immigration reform. (Associated Press)

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"It's not good enough if the children who live in the right ZIP code are excelling in the classroom and moving on to college while families trapped within a low income community have a mediocre education at best and a failing school at worst," Republican Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II says. (Associated press)

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**FILE** President Obama speaks at a disabled veterans event in Orlando, Fla., on Aug. 10, 2013. (Associated Press)

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Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich, a Republican, had proposed expanding Medicaid, but the state legislature balked. Now the state is considering a series of proposals that would resurrect and codify the expansion. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to the issue of criminal sentencing reform, according to one critic. Ideas have been floated in Congress to address the disparity in sentencing when it comes to drug offenses. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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**FILE** Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks Aug. 8, 2013, in Phoenix regarding the detention officer who was shot earlier that day. Jorge Vargas, 27, was shot to death in his driveway while preparing to leave for work. Arpaio also announced that his deputies would be carrying new AR-15 rifles both on and off duty beginning today. Arpaio issued 400 rifles to his deputies with money seized during drug raids. (Associated Press)

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Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas Republican, knows his party is deeply divided on risking a government shutdown by taking a stand against Obamacare. (associated press)