HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s budget impasse remained firmly in place Tuesday after the Republican majority failed during hours of debate to persuade Democrats in a series of 14 votes to override any portion of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget veto.

Republicans defended the perhaps unprecedented legislative method of holding override votes on individual line items even though Wolf had not exercised his line-item authority when he rejected the GOP plan in late June. The $30.2 billion plan did not include more taxes for education and human services spending, as Wolf proposed.

Democrats argued line-item votes would violate the state constitution and they prevented their opponents from getting the two-thirds majority required for an override.

Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, called the maneuver a political stunt.

“Everyone knows that this process and this proposal is unconstitutional,” Dermody said. “You simply cannot line-item override a bill that was not line-item vetoed.”

The votes involved aspects of the state budget that have widespread support and were funded at or near levels Wolf supports. The spending would aid victims of rape and other crimes, purchase books and equipment for schools, feed the poor and hungry and subsidize school bus transportation.

“It is unacceptable that the most vulnerable and those who serve the most vulnerable will have to carry the burden of Harrisburg’s indecision,” said Rep. Bill Adolph, R-Delaware.

Republicans have a 119-84 majority but needed at least 17 Democrats to jump ranks to send a veto to the Senate. All votes were along party lines. The plan had been for 20 votes, but after hours of debate Republicans rushed through the last seven in a bundle.