HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's state-supported universities, struggling public schools, equine industry, hospitals, nursing homes and people who depend on county-run social services all would benefit from a state Senate Republican budget plan that divvies up about $900 million in newly anticipated tax revenue.

The $27.7 billion spending proposal, which would avoid many of the cuts proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett, won unanimous approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, the first such bipartisan vote in recent memory. It was scheduled for a vote by the full Senate today.

Meanwhile, lawmakers say they've secured commitments from the presidents of 18 state-supported universities, including Penn State, Temple and Pitt, to keep 2012-13 tuition increases at or below the rate of inflation if lawmakers wipe out Corbett's proposal to cut 20 percent — $230 million combined — from their annual share of taxpayer aid.

Overall, the Senate's proposal for the 2012-13 fiscal year is almost 2 percent above the $27.2 billion in Corbett's February proposal, as well as the amount approved for spending this year. Still it would spend less than the three previous fiscal years.

It would maintain Corbett's proposal to provide a $275 million business tax cut, eliminate a $150 million temporary cash assistance program for poor adults and leave intact the lion's share of cuts in public school aid that Republicans approved in the current budget.

Democrats, who tried unsuccessfully in the Appropriations Committee to insert another nearly $250 million to undo cuts to child care, social services and the cash assistance program, nevertheless voted for the bill.