By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Democrats geared up for a lengthy battle over a new healthcare reform plan on Thursday as Republicans condemned the bill’s cost and taxes ahead of the first key vote on Saturday.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid’s 2,074-page blueprint for overhauling the $2.5 trillion healthcare system quickly launched what promises to be a lengthy and bitter debate over President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

Reid said the Senate will vote on Saturday on whether to move to debate on the legislation — the first key procedural hurdle for the Senate plan and one that requires 60 votes.

“The finish line is in sight,” Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said. “I’m confident we’ll cross it soon.”

But whether Democrats succeed depends on Reid’s ability to keep his party’s caucus intact. There is no room for error — Democrats control exactly 60 votes, and so far Republicans are united in opposition.

Reid dodged questions from reporters about whether he had the votes needed to move forward. “We’ll find out,” he said.

If the Senate agrees to take up the bill, the debate is expected to begin on Nov. 30, after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday next week, and last for at least three weeks. Senior Democratic senators have said it is unlikely Obama will have a completed bill on his desk by the end of the year.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated Reid’s bill would cost $849 billion over 10 years, below Obama’s $900 billion target, would reduce the budget deficit by $130 billion in the same period and extend insurance coverage to 31 million more people.

But Republicans were not impressed. “We’ve been warning the American people of the Democrats’ plans to raise premiums, raise taxes, and slash Medicare in order to fund more government,” Republican leader Mitch McConnell said.

(Editing by Arshad Mohammed and Vicki Allen)

Reuters