Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., right, talks with Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, before a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, where they discussed the

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Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., right, talks with Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, before a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, where they discussed the debate on tax rates and the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) less