HARRISBURG — Minority Democrats in the state House of Representatives failed to slow a constitutional amendment at the center of a power struggle between the legislative and judicial branches.

Republicans on Tuesday defended the plan to let lawmakers decide which institutions qualify as “purely public charities” that are exempt from local taxes — including hospitals, social service agencies, universities and churches. Democrats say the bill is being rushed and unsuccessfully offered amendments to limit the impact on local governments.

A 2012 state Supreme Court ruling limited lawmakers' power to broaden the definition of tax-exempt charities and said the courts hold that constitutional responsibility.

Final House approval could come as early as today. If approved in two sessions of the Legislature, the proposal could be sent out to a statewide referendum in 2015.

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County officials say they plan to request bids for natural gas drilling under a public park.County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Tuesday that the county could get up to $700,000 a year in royalty payments for drilling under Deer Lakes Park. There could also be a one-time signing bonus of $2 million to $4 million.Officials say no development would be allowed on park land. Companies who have leases for private property around the park would set up rigs there and be allowed to drill horizontally under the park.Fitzgerald says the county has buildings, ball fields and playgrounds that need to be refurbished, and the drilling money could help with that.

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett's plan to slash $12 billion from future public employee pension benefits appears dead in the Republican-controlled state Senate.Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi said the Finance Committee will meet today to amend Corbett's pension bill. It plans to advance a portion of the bill that would shift future hires into a 401K-style plan.

HARRISBURG — A bill to require DNA testing of suspects accused of certain crimes in Pennsylvania is headed to the state House of Representatives for the second time in two years.The Senate approved the bill sponsored by Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, voting 39-to-8 on Tuesday.Current state law requires people who are convicted of serious felonies to submit to a DNA sample taken by cheek swab.However, the bill would require DNA testing after an arrest is made, but before any conviction.