HARRISBURG -- Let the budget politics begin.

Republican leadership blasted House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) for playing politics with people's lives after his committee Tuesday afternoon amended and then approved a bill that could prevent the state from furloughing nearly 25,000 "non-essential" state workers.

The committee unexpectedly considered the bill, Senate Bill 1122, hours before state Rep. Jerry Nailor (R-Cumberland County) was set to call for a discharge motion to bring it before the House.

But Evans and other Democrats on the committee amended it before approval. The changes would allow lawmakers to access nearly $750 million from the state's rainy day fund, a reserve designed to help during difficult economic times, to pay state employees if a budget isn't passed by July 1.

The previous version of the bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate, would prevent furloughs without opening access to the rainy day fund. Democrats have argued this version doesn't provide a funding mechanism to pay the employees.

House Republican leaders were furious with Evans afterward, saying he is trying to access more spending money while purporting to rescue state employees from being temporarily laid off.

"There is no way we will agree to this grab of money," said Sam Smith (R-Jefferson County), House minority leader. "It's totally irresponsible."

Smith was flanked by Minority Appropriations Chairman Mario Civera (R-Delaware County) as they held a question-and-answer session with the Harrisburg press core.

"It's extortion; that's what it is," he said.

Civera said Evans is trying to "save face" after his caucus "hammered" him for sitting on the bill.

Democratic lawmakers, typically supported by state employees unions, are feeling pressure to pass a bill that would prevent furloughs.

Bill Dando, assistant director of AFSCME's legislation and politics department, was in attendance at appropriations hearing.

He said afterward his union has pressured lawmakers from both sides to support Senate Bill 1122.

"Every county has state employees in it," Dando said.

He said he was happy the bill has been moved out of committee, although he preferred a bill that would classify all state employees as "essential."

Smith said Republicans will try to revert the bill to its prior version when it comes before the House. He was unsure when Democratic leadership, which controls the House's schedule, will bring it for a vote.

If passed, the bill would return to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it figures to face a difficult challenge.

Erik Arneson, spokesman for Senate Republicans, said spending the rainy day fund is not desirable.

"The House Democrats need to explain their action," he said. "We have not agreed to dip into the rainy day fund, and it would be completely reckless to use the entire $724 million. We will be extremely reluctant to even dip in the rainy day fund, let alone use it all."