Many of the bills advanced by the budget committee either had nominal costs or had their funding reduced, as nearly 300 bills, totalling more than $2 billion in spending over 2 years, competed for only $5 million funding.

Proponents say a court case in Alaska casts doubt on a Maine Law Court advisory opinion that the voting method violates the Maine Constitution.

The House initially rejected the proposal to add more than $320 million in new spending and taxes over the next 2 years to supplement the $11.3 billion budget previously approved by the Democratic majority, but reversed course after it was approved in the Senate.