Senate women provide checklist for change

DENVER, D.C., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Eight female U.S. senators offered a to-do list Tuesday, ranging from disaster preparedness to protecting the checkbook, for the next president to tackle.

"We, the Democratic women in the Senate are a force" for women, families and change, Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland told delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver Tuesday.

Mikulski spoke of the need to bring women's pay in line with men's pay and that Barack Obama, poised to be named the Democratic presidential nominee, will help women achieve equal pay for equal work.

Sen. Barbara Boxer of California said Obama would fight global warming "so the world's economic and environmental leader will clearly be our nation, the United States of America."

Speaking of disaster preparedness was Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, who spoke of the federal government's poor response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan spoke of the need for affordable healthcare and keeping jobs in America.

Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington said Obama would make energy independence a top priority for the United States.

Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said families balance checkbooks, and so should the nation -- and Obama would help the country return to fiscal responsibility.

"That's why the Democratic women of the Senate say to the women of this country, we need Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the White House," Klobuchar said.