Sen. Sherrod Brown is returning from his mother's memorial services for what could be the decisive 60th vote needed to send the $787 billion economic stimulus plan to President Barack Obama.

The White House has arranged a plane to fly the Ohio Democrat to Washington Friday night and then back to Ohio immediately after the scheduled vote so he can attend church services and the funeral for his mother in Mansfield Saturday morning, his office said.

Brown's mother, Emily Campbell Brown, died on Feb. 2 at age 88. Funeral arrangements were announced later that week.

Brown was to leave for Washington after visiting hours ended at 8 p.m., landing at Andrews Air Force Base in the D.C. suburbs. The vote will be held open until Brown arrives.

A White House official said government transportation was provided because there were no commercial flights available that would allow Brown to make the vote and attend services memorializing his mother.

Democrats, with 58 members in the Senate, can count on only three Republican supporters in getting the 60 votes needed to pass the stimulus package. Because Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who is being treated for brain cancer, is not expected to be in Washington for the vote, Brown's vote may be crucial. The House passed the measure Friday with no Republican supporters.