November 7, 2009 President inspires party to pass health care legislation Play video

(NECN) - The idea of health care reform has long been sought after, but never reached a vote on Capitol Hill, until Saturday.

President Barack Obama was on Capital Hill Saturday morning in a rare visit to show his support.

The President made the trip to inspire the party to pass health care legislation.

Not a single republican will vote for the sprawling trillion dollar bill, so the Democrats need 218 votes.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the meeting that she couldn't help think of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who died of brain cancer last summer.

Kennedy championed health care reform, and Kennedy said before he died that Obama would inspire a new generation to act.

If the Democrats are successful in passing the bill, it would give President Obama his biggest victory since last year's election.

The Democrats hold 258 seats in the House and can afford 40 defections.

All 177 Republicans are expected to vote no.

Parts of this report came directly from the Associated Press.