U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan was among a quartet of female Democratic senators contending Wednesday that health care reform will boost women's access to health care.

The foursome said under the current health care system, women pay more than men for health insurance and are denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions such as C-sections and domestic violence. The group said preventive screenings such as mammograms and pap tests often are not covered.

"Without health care reform, insurance companies will continue to discriminate against women," said Senator Hagan. "Charging women more for coverage and denying comprehensive maternity care are just two of the common insurance company practices. The Senate is working on sending the President a reform bill that ensures women are treated fairly, expands coverage, and provides security and stability to people who have health insurance."

The other three senators were Barbara Mikulski, of Maryland; Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire and Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota.

What bipartisan efforts has U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole worked on?

At Dome's request, the Salisbury Republican's staffers sent a list of bipartisan efforts that she is most proud of from the past six years:

* Climate Change: Dole co-sponsored a "cap and trade" bill to reduce carbon emissions by Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman and Republican John Warner this session.

* Military Family Leave: Dole co-sponsored a bill by Sen. Hillary Clinton to allow some workers 12-month leaves to care for family members wounded in action.

* Lumbee Recognition: Dole worked with Gov. Mike Easley, U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski, among others, on legislation to recognize the Lumbee tribe.

* Tobacco Quota Buyout: Dole worked with U.S. Reps. McIntyre and Bob Etheridge on a tobacco quota buyout program included in a 2004 jobs bill.

* Catching Fugitives: Dole co-sponsored a bill with Sen. Richard Durbin to give law enforcement agencies help capturing fugitives from the U.S. Marshals.

Dole's staffers also cited her work on 211 expansion with Clinton, creating infrastructure bonds with Sen. Ron Wyden, requiring a White House conference on nutrition with Sen. John Kerry, demanding Iraq fund a greater share of its reconstruction with Sen. Ben Nelson, and amending trade adjustment laws and calling for an Oil and Gas Market Fraud Task Force with Sen. Maria Cantwell.

Previously: Dole's Democratic cosponsors 2003-08.

How bipartisan has U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole been?

From 2003 to 2008, the Salisbury Republican was the primary sponsor of 140 bills. Of them, 80 had no cosponsors, 27 had only Republican cosponsors and 33 had Democratic cosponsors.

Overall, her 264 cosponsors included 164 Republicans and 100 Democrats, or about three-to-two ratio. A bill to give British Prime Minister Tony Blair the Congressional Medal of Honor was the most bipartisan measure, with 30 Democratic cosponsors.

Another bipartisan bill would have phased out reduced-price lunches at public schools by increasing eligibility for free lunches. Six Republican and eight Democrats signed on.

The most frequent Democratic cosponsor was Sen. Barbara Mikulski, who signed on to seven bills, including ones to investigate Camp Lejeune's drinking water and recognize the Lumbee tribe as well as several amendments to bills.

Sen. Joe Lieberman signed onto six bills, including ones to set aside a portion of the gross domestic product for defense spending and provide job training in college. Sens. Ted Kennedy, Tom Harkin, Richard Durbin, Frank Lautenberg and Bill Nelson each signed onto five bills.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards signed onto four Dole bills, including recognizing the Lumbees and honoring Blair.

Previously: Dole's cosponsors in 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole was very bipartisan in the 2005-06 session.

With the candidates for Senate touting their records of bipartisanship, Dome has been taking a closer look at the number of Democrats who signed on to legislation Dole sponsored.

In the 2005-06 session, the Salisbury Republican was the primary sponsor of 49 bills. Of them, 30 had no cosponsor, nine had only Republican cosponsors and nine had Democratic cosponsors.

Overall, her 63 cosponsors included 29 Democrats and 34 Republicans, or about a one-to-one ratio. (Dome is counting Sen. Jim Jeffords, an Independent, as a Democrat since he caucused with them.)

The most frequent Democratic cosponsor was Sen. Barbara Mikulski, who signed on to four Dole amendments, including a measure to require the National Academy of Sciences study drinking water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

Dole also had Democratic cosponsors on bills requiring a report on predatory lending to military families, assist worker retraining programs, encourage collectively bargained retiree health benefits, honoring a black Marine and giving a tax credit for hunger relief efforts.

Previously: Dole's Democratic cosponsors in 2007-08 session.