HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania House Republicans used some fancy parliamentary tricks to lock in spending at $27.6 billion for next year's budget Monday.

Meanwhile, GOP leaders are aiming for a final vote on the state budget by June 13 - more than two weeks before the constitutional deadline of June 30.

The House Appropriations Committee approved the budget bill with a party line 21-14 vote, setting it up for a floor debate and final passage.

The committee essentially set the 2012-13 budget's final spending figure, when it ruled that any amendments to the bill must be revenue neutral.

Democrats were angered by the move, which blocked their plans to add about $300 million to basic education, county-level health services and welfare.