The House has already passed the same ban by a veto-proof majority.

"Two weeks ago," one senior Administration official said, "we thought this bill might pass with a veto-proof majority."

The Democrats hold a veto-proof majority in both houses of the legislature.

He predicted the House would be "in range" of winning a veto-proof majority.

And if they did win only five, Republicans would have a veto-proof majority.

Democrats now have a veto-proof majority in the State Senate.

That is just two seats short of the 101 needed for a veto-proof majority.

In neither house was the bill passed by a veto-proof majority.

The House passed a similar measure by a veto-proof majority.

The House is also expected to take up the bill next week, but its prospects for a veto-proof majority are uncertain.