An effort to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to clarify that lawmakers may decide what kinds of institutions qualify as charities and escape paying certain taxes is through the Senate.
 
Wednesday's 30-20 vote followed objections by some Democrats who said cash-strapped cities will be hurt.
 
The Democrats say Pennsylvania's existing law allows many institutions to escape paying taxes under questionable circumstances and that municipalities have no ability to challenge that status. But Republicans who sponsored the amendment would not commit to a revamp of the law.
 
The effort to amend the constitution comes in the wake of a state Supreme Court ruling last year that limited lawmakers' power to broaden the definition of a "purely public charity."