Pelosi predicts healthcare bill will pass

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she expects Democrats will have enough votes to pass a healthcare reform bill by Saturday.

Asked if she would get 218 Democrats to vote in favor of the $1 trillion bill that would extend healthcare to 96 percent of the U.S. population and create a government-run health insurance plan, the California Democrat said, "We will."

Republican leaders indicate few, if any, members of their party will vote for the bill.

Democrats are preparing for a rare Saturday evening vote on the healthcare reform bill, a key piece of legislation on President Barack Obama's agenda for his first year in office, The Hill reported Thursday.

Democrats won a key endorsement Thursday when the AARP declared its support for the House bill.