Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu says she will vote «yes» on a crucial test vote on the health care bill, according to AP, 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 (0100 GMT) 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 Republicans are unanimously opposed. A largely overlooked provision in the Senate bill would send $100 million to Louisiana to help it cover costs for Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor.
