The Senate tonight spent about 30 minutes debating the Republican version of the $190 million budget before voting 20-15 to defeat it.

Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, said the Republican proposal sought to put limits on who can sign up for Medicaid benefits.

“The hard-working taxpayers cannot sustain the growth we’ve seen in our system,” he said.

But Democrats argued that by making it harder for some adults to get health care coverage, it will make it more expensive for everyone else. Also, adults who don’t have health care don’t tend to take their children to the doctor either, said Sen. Joe Brannigan, D-Portland.

Republicans argued that they were trying to find sustainable cuts that would help reduce the state’s spending in the future.

“The majority relies on one-time money to get us through the next 15 months and that’s pretty much the extent of it,” said Assistant Senate Minority Leader Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport.

After the vote that defeated the Republican budget, the Democrats moved for acceptance of their version of the budget.

Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport, temporarily stepped down from the podium so she could address the Senate on the budget. She said she hasn’t slept well in recent nights.

The debate over restricting Medicaid for poor childless adults is what’s kept her up. The waiting list is now 6,500.

“I can’t support a cut to this service,” she said.

Debate is continuing.