44: Altmire a 'no,' but Ellsworth and Kosmas on board

More votes fell into place on both sides of the health-reform ledger Friday afternoon, as Democrats picked up support from two lawmakers but lost a member who had been the media's most-chronicled Hamlet.

Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) announced that he would vote against the final bill Sunday, just as he did with the original House bill in November, after several days of very public deliberations over the decision.

"I regret that this year-long process of debating health-care reform has resulted in a final product that I cannot support," Altmire said in a statement released by his office. "The cost of inaction on health care is great, but it would be an even bigger mistake to pass a bill that could compound the problem of skyrocketing health care costs."

On the flip side, Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.) announced that he would vote in favor of the health bill, repeating the "aye" he cast in November. His decision has been closely-watched, as Ellsworth is running for an open Senate seat in a state that leans center-right.

"After months of meetings and conversations with thousands of Hoosiers, health care experts and pro-life advocates, I am confident supporting health-care reform is the right decision for Hoosiers," Ellsworth said.

Even more significantly for Democrats' raw numbers, Florida Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D) said she also would back the final measure, a reversal from her "no" vote in November.

"I'm going to vote for health-care reform," Kosmas said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "I know this is not a perfect bill. But in the scheme of things, it provides the best options and the best opportunities for my constituents."

As other members have Friday, Kosmas cited the Congressional Budget Office's finding that the health bill would cut the deficit as a key reason behind her decision.

44: Democrats pick up three more votes for health bill

Democrats picked up three more votes in favor of their health-care package Friday, including two from members who opposed the original House measure in November.

Florida Rep. Allen Boyd (Fla.) and Ohio Rep. John Boccieri (D) both announced they were reversing their earlier opposition and would back the measure this weekend. Fellow Ohio Democrat Charles Wilson, who had been publicly undecided, also issued a news release saying he would vote "yes."

Boyd, a key member of the fiscal conservative Blue Dog coalition, said the final health package had flaws but was good enough for him to support.