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He noted that the law would possibly put a financial burden on businesses.

The Senate is expected to hold a vote on Monday or Tuesday to open debate on the bill, marking the first time since 1996 that a measure granting workplace legal protection to gay men and lesbians has come before the full Senate.

The bill appears to have cleared the Senate hurdle. All 55 members of the Democratic majority had said they would vote for the bill along with four Republicans. Gay rights advocates had been waiting for one more Republican to give them the 60th vote they would need to open debate.

But even if the bill passes the Senate, it would still require passage in the House, and Boehner's opposition to the bill makes it unlikely that it would even get a vote.

Read more at The New York Times.

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