(NECN: Washington) - Two weeks after the House passed its version of health care reform, the Senate took its turn.

The 60-39 vote cleared the way for a full-scale debate beginning after Thanksgiving on the legislation, which is designed to extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny or dilute benefits and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally.

(NECN: Josh Brogadir) - Today, Senate Democrats hit the magic number 60, and will move ahead to debate the historic health care legislation.

The formal vote will be held at eight o'clock.

Five and a half hours before the 8 o'clock procedural vote, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, the lone Democratic holdout, announced she would join her party's ranks.

Her "yes" vote, gives the Democrats the 60 votes needed to prevent a Republican filibuster and move the bill to the floor.

(NECN: John Moroney) - Diane Patrick, the Governor's wife made her choice for U.S Senate. Another high-profile female endorsement for Michael Capuano, one week after house speaker Nancy Pelosi showed her support for the democratic congressman.

Capuano says the support of the first lady of Massachusetts is more personal than anything else. And he says he's proud of his support from men and women.

"I have men, I have white people, black people, Hispanic people, Asian people. I'm very proud of the diversity of this campaign and that includes some women.”

(NECN: Washington) - Senate Democrats hit the magic number of 60, and will move ahead to debate the historic health care legislation.

Two final holdouts, Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, announced in speeches a few hours apart on the Senate floor they would vote to clear the way for what is expected to be a bruising, full-scale health care debate after Thanksgiving.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic leaders secured the last two votes to move ahead on historic health care legislation, clearing the way for a Saturday night showdown on President Barack Obama's top domestic initiative.

In long-awaited speeches, centrist Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana said they would stand with their party and vote "yes" on the crucial test vote despite deep reservations with elements of the 2,074-page bill to remake the nation's health care system.

"The truth is this issue is very complex. There is no easy fix

WASHINGTON (AP) - And then there was one.

Historic health care legislation advanced to a Saturday night Senate showdown as centrist Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., fell in line as the 59th vote in an early test of party unity on President Barack Obama's top domestic initiative.

"It is clear to me that doing nothing is not an option," Landrieu said on the Senate floor as she delivered her long-awaited announcement just hours before the 8 p.m. EST vote

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., needs 60 votes in the

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu says she will vote "yes" on a crucial test vote on the health care bill.

The Louisiana lawmaker made the long-awaited announcement in a speech on the Senate floor Saturday. Her comments came just hours before the 8 p.m. EST vote.

Landrieu says her vote is to move forward but that work still needs to be done on the bill.

Landrieu has been one of two Democratic holdouts; the other is Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs 60 votes to prevail in the 100-seat Senate. The 40

(NECN/ABC News) - The health care reform bill will face a key procedural vote in the Senate tonight.

No Republicans are backing this bill, which means the Democrats need all 60 members of their caucus to vote for it to prevent a filibuster - and to ensure the bill moves forward.

The bill would insure an additional 31 million Americans at a cost of nearly $850 billion.

Two new sets of recommendations for cancer screenings this week are adding even more fuel to the debate.

Republicans seized on the new screening guidelines as a big "I told you so."

WASHINGTON (AP) - A crucial first Senate vote on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in a rare Saturday night session looms as a test of Democratic unity and the president's prestige.

Democratic leaders are optimistic of success, but they need every Democrat and both independents to vote "yes," and two moderates remained uncommitted ahead of the roll call, which is expected around 8 p.m. The vote will determine whether debate can go forward on Majority Leader Harry Reid's 2,074-page bill to dramatically remake the U.S. health care system over the next decade.