Social Issues

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Florida Gov. Rick Scott is a Republican lawmaker set to face a well-financed Democrat in a state President Obama has won twice. Democrats hope to use Mr. Obama’s health care law and Republican inflexibility to their advantage in upcoming elections. (Associated Press)

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, makes his way back to his office after going into the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 31, 2012. Lawmakers on the Hill are attempting to avert the looming "fiscal cliff" of automatic tax increases and spending cuts. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, makes his way back to his office after going into the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 31, 2012. Lawmakers on the Hill are attempting to avert the looming "fiscal cliff" of automatic tax increases and spending cuts. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Longtime Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of sexual abuse and will serve 30 to 60 years in prison. (Associated Press)

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Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted of multiple sexual assaults. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** This combination of photographs shows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio as they leave the White House separately in Washington, Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, after a closed-door meeting between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders to negotiate the framework for a deal on the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Rev. Mel Kawakami (center) of the Newtown United Methodist Church and Rabbi Shaul Praver (right) of Congregation Adath Israel in Newtown speak in Newtown, Conn., at an interfaith prayer vigil to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings on Dec. 28, 2012, two weeks after a gunman killed 20 children and six educators at the school. (Associated Press/Danbury News-Times)

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**FILE** Sarah Dowling (left) speaks Nov. 1, 2012, at a gay-marriage rally in Portland, Maine, accompanied by Linda Wolfe, her partner of 18 years, and their daughter, Maya Dowling-Wolfe. Dowling and Wolfe plan to marry after Maine passed a law allowing same-sex marriage, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m., Dec. 29, 2012. (Associated Press)

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Rives Grogan of Los Angeles, a pastor and anti-abortion protestor, is restrained by Capitol Hill police on Capitol Hill on Dec. 28, 2012, after demonstrating in the Senate Chamber visitor's gallery. (Associated Press)