AUGUSTA (AP) – A hard-fought compromise on $83 million in new state borrowing that advocates said could generate an additional $220 million from other sources won enactment Friday as Maine lawmakers convened for a daylong special legislative session.

Final Senate approval came on a tally of 34-1, with the lopsided margin failing to reflect months of discussion and disagreement over the desirability of using debt to bolster research and development and public education, as well as finance environmental and transportation projects, all while promoting fiscal stability.

The House of Representatives gave the measure final approval earlier in the evening. The House vote, following the rejection of one proposed amendment, was 128-14.

Afterward, Democratic House floor leader Glenn Cummings of Portland characterized the proposed bonding as “an important first step” but looked toward “stronger, better, wiser investments in the future.”

Republican House floor leader David Bowles of Sanford suggested that various lawmakers may think the package was too small or too big, “but that’s what a bond negotiation is.”

Democratic Gov. John Baldacci lauded Democratic and Republican leaders and other budget bargainers and said the bond package would foster “investments in Maine’s future.”

Facing a growing stack of proposed amendments, Senate lawmakers opened debate in midafternoon. After about three hours, shortly before 5 p.m., the Senate gave the compromise proposal all-but-final approval.

Eleven amendments to increase or otherwise alter the proposed borrowing were defeated in the Senate and the bill moved to the waiting House, where action was relatively swift.

Around 7:30 p.m., the last Senate roll call was taken.

“I wish we could do more,” said Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, the second Democratic senator on the Appropriations Committee.

For most debaters, the question was not whether to borrow, but how much.

“These are infrastructure needs we can’t walk away from,” said Republican Sen. Richard Nass of Acton, a member of the Appropriations Committee that negotiated final details of the proposed borrowing plan.

Without disputing Nass, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Schneider of Orono went further, arguing that “this is too small a bond package.”

A bloc of 10 or more Senate Democrats lined up in support of a number of amendments aimed at boosting overall borrowing for various projects, but was unable to overcome an opposition anchored by the three members of Democratic leadership, led by Senate President Beth Edmonds of Freeport.

Also standing fast against changes from the floor were Sen. Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston, the co-chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, and a solid front of Republicans.

The bill that emerged from the Appropriations panel earmarked $33.1 million for transportation projects, $20 million for economic development and jobs, $9 million for education, $12 million for land conservation and a working waterfront initiative and $8.9 million for clean water, environment and health projects.

The package went before the Senate and House of Representatives as one proposal, but will go to voters in November as five separate questions.

To clear the Legislature, proposed bond issues need majorities of two-thirds or better in the House and Senate and legislative negotiators had spent weeks trying to narrow partisan differences to maximize prospects for passage.

In the end, debate frequently hinged on geography with lawmakers from one region or another stumping for projects of particular benefit to their constituents.

Lobbyists returned to the State House for the day to press their best arguments for funding this or that or to observe the debate and voting.