HARRISBURG -- A Democratic spending plan that includes no tax increases and no funding for higher education is on its way to the Senate on a 104-95 House vote.

However, that doesn't signal an end to the budget impasse.

The Republican-controlled Senate is sure to reject the plan, which GOP lawmakers have called a sham and a thinly veiled attempt to pass an income-tax hike or to legalize video poker and table games to raise revenue.

The House-passed bill calls for $28.8 billion in spending, not including money for community colleges, the State System of Higher Education and a student loan agency. Democrats intend to provide for them in separate legislation with a cost of about $1.3 billion.

The trouble for Republicans is that the Democrats haven't identified a funding stream to pay for it.

Democrats have, though, offered a menu of options including increasing the income tax, increasing the sales tax, removing sales-tax exemptions and expanding gaming -- all revenue sources that most Republicans oppose.

"This bill, with all due respect, is a gimmick. It's not a solution. We all know it," said House Republican Whip Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods.

"Are you willing to raise taxes in a time of recession where every dollar matters to every person and every small business?" he asked fellow members on the House floor.

Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair, said every household in Pennsylvania would have to pay an average of $500 more in taxes to fill the $1.3 billion hole.

The plan's biggest proponent, Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, said the budget gives Pennsylvanians what they want: no broad-based taxes for the general fund.

Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Dravosburg, said the bill makes key investments in Pennsylvania's future and reflects the Democrats' priorities of funding work force development, job creation, health care and programs serving veterans and seniors.

House Speaker Keith McCall, D-Carbon, said passage was a "hugely positive step forward to getting this budget passed without sacrificing vital programs that many Pennsylvanians depend on."

All but five members voted along party lines. Democrats John Pallone of New Kensington and Joseph Petrarca of Vandergrift voted with the GOP. Republicans Nick Micozzie of Delaware County, Dennis O'Brien of Philadelphia and Robert Godshall of Montgomery County sided with the Democrats.

Republican leaders wanted a plan allowing $27.3 billion in spending -- about $500 million less than the state spent last fiscal year, which ended June 30.

Lawmakers know the final budget "remains to be negotiated," said Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne. Last night's vote merely served to affirm the House's values, she said.

If the Senate doesn't amend the bill into something both chambers can agree on, leaders will convene in private to hash out a plan in a committee. Once they've reached an agreement, the rank-and-file can vote it up or down without amendment.

Meanwhile, 77,000 state workers are not being paid for days they worked after June 30 when the fiscal year ended. Once a budget is signed, they will receive back pay.