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.

The governor also criticizes the minimum-wage increase and the referendum process while calling for a return to representative government.

Appearing before the budget-writing committee on the eve of his State of the State address, the governor lays out the reasoning behind his cutbacks, tax and other proposals.

After delivering his State of the State speech in writing in 2016, Maine’s governor will return to the House chamber.