HARRISBURG — The state House of Representatives on Friday approved a new version of a bill to help Pennsylvania's largest city solve its financial problems, including changes that would water down municipal pension reforms previously embraced by the Senate.

The House approved the measure 113-76 after about an hour of debate and a separate, more lopsided vote to suspend a rule that would have barred a vote until after 8 p.m.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter was noted that Senate concurrence is necessary to pass the bill and send it to Gov. Ed Rendell.

Nutter, who has led the city's lobbying effort for the bill, said he has been in "constant touch" with both Senate caucuses in hopes of winning swift approval next week.

Philadelphia faces deep service cutbacks and the layoffs of 3,000 city workers by early next month if the bill is not passed. It would allow the city to increase its sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent for five years and make other changes to generate $700 million for the city.

The legislation has been in limbo for more than two weeks because of a Senate amendment tying it to a proposed overhaul of laws governing the state's 3,100 municipal pension funds.