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Lincoln, women senators pin hopes on Obama Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau DENVER - Democratic women senators on Tuesday pinned their hopes on Barack Obama to help them move forward with a long list of domestic policy changes. The group that includes Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., views its "Checklist fo r Change" as a way to improve life for working-class American families. For her part, Lincoln delivered a 148-word address at the Democratic National Convention in which she said the country is "in the midst of a national health care crisis." She and seven other women senators who appeared together on stage said Obama as president would be best to help them with their agenda that includes wage equity, universal health care, better veterans benefits and greater environmental protections. Lincoln spoke solely about health care. More than 47 million Americans are without health insurance. Eighty percent of them are in working families, she said. Lincoln is lead sponsor of a bill to allow small businesses to join together in an insurance pool in order to obtain lower premium prices. A similar bill is in the House. "Every Ame rican deserves the peace of mind that a quality health plan brings," Lincoln said. "This November, we can't afford more of the same. We must elect Barack Obama and bring health security to all Americans." Obama has pledged to provide health insurance to all Americans with a health reform plan that would cost upwards of $50 billion a year. Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain has proposed tax credits for Americans to buy private insurance. Lincoln also pushed for Medicare reform so that Americans 65 and over "can always receive the essential care that they need." Women senators issued their "Checklist for Change" agenda first in 2006 and revisited it this year ahead of the presidential election. The group's goal is a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. With 60 or more Democrats in the Senate, the party could prevent parliamentary maneuvers used to kill proposed legislation. The "checklist" was so named because women often make lists to keep up with errands, Lincoln has said. Lincoln's remarks came early in the evening in front of a half-full convention hall. There were only about a dozen Arkansans in the Natural State's section of the arena when Lincoln spoke at about 6:15 p.m. Most members of the state's delegation had not yet arrived. The other senators who joined Lincoln on stage were Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Barbara Boxer of California, Maria Cantwell of Washington, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. |
