i have been part of this debate since i was codirector of the oregon gray panthers going back 30 years now. i continue to believe there is an opportunity for democrats and republicans to work together. our party has been right on the issue of coverage. you cannot fix this unless all americans have good quality, affordable coverage because otherwise there will be too much cost shifting. but as i have said to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle -- i see senator bunning here. he and i have worked together on the finance committee. our colleagues on the other side of the -- on the other side of the aisle make important points with respect to choice, with respect to markets, with respect to competition. this is an area we can work together. there is nothing partisan in my view, mr. president, about creating a new health care marketplace through these exchanges. this bill lays a foundation, and there will be opportunities for democrats and republicans to build on that foundation in the days ahead. mr. president, i yield the floor. expired. mr. durbin: mr. president? the presiding of

i have been part of this debate since i was codirector of the oregon gray panthers going back 30 yearsnow. i continue to believe there is an opportunity for democrats and republicans to work together. our party has been right on the issue of coverage. you cannot fix this unless all americans have good quality, affordable coverage because otherwise there will be too much cost shifting. but as i have said to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle -- i see senator bunning here. he and i have worked together on the finance committee. our colleagues on the other side of the -- on the other side of the aisle make important points with respect to choice, with respect to markets, with respect to competition. this is an area we can work together. there is nothing partisan in my view, mr. president, about creating a new health care marketplace through these exchanges. this bill lays a foundation, and there will be opportunities for democrats and republicans to build on that foundation in the days ahead. mr. president, i yield the floor. mr. bunning: mr. president? the presiding officer: th

i was the cofinder of the oregon gray panthers, ran the legal aid program for older people in our home state for a number of years, and i want it understood that i think with the baucus legislation on medicare advantage that proves that it is possible to make savings in the medicare program without cutting essential benefits, using commonsense principles of competitive bidding, number one, and incentives for quality, i think grandma's going to be just fine under our language for medicare advantage. mr. president w-rbgs that, i yield the floor. -- mr. president, with that, i yield the floor. mr. baucus: how much time remains on our side? the presiding officer: three minutes. mr. baucus: on the minority side? the presiding officer: 55 minutes. mr. baucus: i reserve the balance of the majority time. the presiding officer: the senator from tennessee. mr. alexander: mr. president, during the next 55 minutes, we'll have several republican senators come to the floor. and i ask unanimous consent that during that time senator mccain be allowed to be the manager of a colloquy among the republica