AUGUSTA – With two-thirds consensus on the governor’s supplemental budget thus far eluding the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, lawmakers and State House lobbyists remained increasingly convinced that Democrats will have to pass a majority budget.

But the real question is: Will there be enough Democratic senators in the Maine Senate to pass a majority budget when the Jan. 30 vote is taken?

On a good day, Democrats hold an 18-17 advantage over Republicans in the Maine Senate. But Sen. Pam Hatch, D-Skowhegan, has been absent for more than a week, recuperating from injuries received in a head-on automobile collision in Manchester. And Sen. Chris Hall, D-Bristol, returned to his native England this week to care for his ailing father.

Depending on who shows up for the vote when it happens, Republicans and Democrats could tie at 17-17 or Republicans could actually defeat the budget 17-16 in the event both Democrats are absent.

Time is crucial to Gov. John E. Baldacci’s budget package, since $2.5 million of the $109 million proposal requires legislative approval. The governor had hoped to address the timetable issue by appealing for two-thirds support in the Legislature to allow the bill to become law with his signature.

But the governor also is willing to entertain a majority budget if that’s what it takes to balance the state’s books. A majority package would have to be approved by the House and Senate by the end of the month. Both branches of the Legislature would then adjourn for the purposes of allowing the budget bill to become law 90 days later, as prescribed under the Maine Constitution.

Baldacci would then call the Legislature back into special session to deal with all remaining issues. Two-thirds of the Legislature would have to agree to forego the special session pay of $100 per day – nearly double the normal rate – to defray additional budget expenses.

Maine Senate President Beverly Daggett, D-Augusta, said Hall would be back in Maine next week and that, if necessary, arrangements would be made to bring Hatch to the Senate for the purposes of casting the 18th vote. Such extraordinary measures would not be without precedent. In 1979, Sen. Howard Trotzky, a Bangor Republican, was brought to the Senate from the hospital on a stretcher following back surgery so he could vote.

“I expect to have a majority by the end of the week,” Daggett said. “If we’re not going to be accompanied by Republicans, then of necessity, the majority will have to take care of the difficult job.”