HARRISBURG - After more than two hours of angry debate Thursday, the state House of Representatives passed a short-term spending plan that Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto without broader agreement on how to end a nearly three-month budget stalemate.

The 117-83 vote on the Republican majority's $11 billion spending plan was along party lines as Democrats stood by Wolf.Pennsylvania is just one of two states - along with Illinois - whose deep partisan divide in state government has stymied the passage of a budget since the fiscal year began July 1.Intermittent closed-door negotiations held since then have produced little, if any, progress as counties, school districts and nonprofit social services organizations borrow money or postpone payments to contractors.The ripple effect is causing layoffs and waiting lists for the elderly seeking day-to-day help in their homes and domestic violence victims or the nearly homeless seeking help to get a place to stay.Just after the bill passed, a closed-door meeting between Wolf and top Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the governor's office broke up without anyone appearing to narrow their divides over fiscal policy, education funding, public pensions and the state-controlled wine and liquor store system.Republicans are asking a volley of questions about the governor's counteroffer involving gestures toward two key GOP demands: that the state privatize its control of wine and liquor sales and replace the traditional pension benefit for future school and state government employees with contributions to a 401(k)-style retirement plan.Meanwhile, Wolf is asking Republicans to come up with money to significantly increase the state's commitment to public schools and fix a long-term deficit that has left Pennsylvania's creditworthiness in the nation's basement.He also said he will veto the bill when it gets to his desk, perhaps as early as Monday.The bill is intended to cover four months of funding, retroactive to the start of the fiscal year through Oct. 31, and would release $24 billion in federal funds.During the debate, both sides sought to shift blame to the other for the stalemate and the resulting damage from billions of dollars in aid for schools and social services that has been held up.Republicans continued to drum out their opposition to a multibillion-dollar tax increase being sought by Wolf, which they charged that Democrats don't even support. They insisted the short-term spending package was necessary to stop layoffs, service shutdowns and closures, and they urged Democrats to release schoolchildren and the vulnerable as their "hostages."Rep. Tom Murt, R-Montgomery, told colleagues during floor arguments that the short-term plan might not be perfect, but it was necessary."It's a responsible thing to do at a time when real people are suffering," Murt said.Democrats excoriated Republicans for cutting funding for schools and social services under Wolf's Republican predecessor and blamed them for perpetuating a long-term deficit that's damaged Pennsylvania's credit rating. They then warned Republicans that they will have to eventually support a tax increase to undo the damage they have inflicted.They also said that allowing the short-term spending plan to go forward would relieve pressure on Republicans to compromise."The 800-pound gorilla sitting at the table is going to be some very, very difficult revenue-enhancing votes that will have to be done along with this budget, and that's what we keep avoiding here," said Allegheny County Rep. Joe Markosek, the Appropriations Committee's ranking Democrat.