Supporters say the number of ‘nips’ showing up in roadside ditches or tossed on front lawns is increasing with the popularity of the 50-milliliter bottles.

The supplemental budget bill would also provide a $7 million bailout to the Maine Military Authority and squirrel away $35 million in the ‘rainy day’ fund.

Opponents says the move belies the will of the voters.

A committee co-chair ejects one member of the audience, a University of Maine student who intended to testify.