Bill Diamond

First it was Senator Bill Diamond, then John Nutting and now Senator Nancy Sullivan has decided to test the waters in the “one vote makes a difference” side show that has plagued the 18-17 Senate.

UPDATED Apr. 2 at 9:30 p.m. with more details on the debate

The state Senate passed a bill Wednesday allowing Maine to participate in the National Popular Vote interstate compact. The bill will next go before the House for consideration.  read more »

PolitickerME asked six Democrats in the Legislature how they were feeling about the budget that passed. Responding in the video below: House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland; Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport; House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven; Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell, D-Vassalboro; Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham; and Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, a member of the Appropriations Committee.

In addition, the Senate Majority Office has sent on this video of Sen. Peggy Rotundo’s floor speech. Rotundo, D-Lewiston, is the chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee.

No one is exactly sure when Senator Diamond jumped ship on HIS compromise budget in favor of the latest House version, but he was definitely spotted swimming to democratic shores swallowing mouthfuls of promises along the way.

Just beneath the surface in the Maine Senate there is angst, and the cause is Senator Bill Diamond.

It’s just past 8 p.m. and the Senate has just begun budget talks for the evening. The House has gone home for the night. The deliberations can be seen by clicking here.

Update: The issue was tabled Thursday. 

The National Popular Vote bill is expected to come up for a second debate and vote Thursday in the Maine Senate.

The issue first came up in the Maine Senate Monday. With Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, absent, they voted 17 to 17. On Tuesday, Hastings said he is against the bill so, providing everyone is there and votes the same, it won’t pass.

The Maine Senate could not either pass or not pass a bill Monday that would allow the state to participate in the National Popular Vote interstate compact.

With an 18-17 Senate, can the liberal wing of the party create enough enticements to keep the significant number of moderate folks like Senators Diamond, Hobbins, Marrache, and Nutting in line? That will not be an easy task.