House leaders are still lining up support and attempting to quell concerns from pro-life Democrats, but plan to have a floor vote on health care reform legislation this Saturday.

House Democrats introduced the blended bill last week – the merged product of three bills approved this summer by the Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees – and on Tuesday released 42 pages of amendments to the package.

No House Republicans are expected to vote for the bill, so House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will need at least 218 votes from the Democratic caucus to pass the measure. “Americans are ready for comprehensive health insurance reform, and the House will soon act,” Pelosi said. “Our bill covers 96 percent of Americans, makes coverage more affordable for all, and creates consumer protections that will end discrimination by insurance companies against the sick and cap what Americans pay out-of-pocket.”

More amendments are likely when the House Rules Committee meets on Friday to structure the rules for the floor debate. The major sticking point lies with anti-abortion Democrats who want stronger language in the bill to prohibit federal funds from being spent on abortions. Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) has drafted a floor amendment that would explicitly prevent any public funds from being used to provide abortion services in the proposed government-run public option. “Unless there is stronger language added to protect federal tax dollars and provide pro-life insurance options in the exchange, I cannot support [the bill],” Ellsworth said.

According to Reuters, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters today that he thinks the vote is “going to be close,” but that it will win majority support from House Democrats.

On the Senate side, Democrats are still waiting on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to score various reform proposals that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has cobbled together from two separate bills. Reid has been holding the details of his plan close to the vest, other than a public option alternative he favors that would allow states to opt out if they choose not to participate.