WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled House voted to shield greenhouse-gas polluters and privately owned colleges from federal regulators Friday, strengthening the pro-business emphasis of legislation that also would chop $61 billion from government spending.

But as a final vote neared on the sweeping measure, newly elected conservatives suffered a rare setback when a split among rank-and-file Republicans sank a move to cut $22 billion more.

“The American people have spoken. They demand that Washington stop its out-of-control spending now, not some time in the future,” declared Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., one of the 87 newly elected Republicans who have moved aggressively to attack federal deficits and reduce government’s reach.

But for other Republicans, the extra $22 billion was a step too far. “Rather than make careful decisions on specific programs, the amendment hits everything indiscriminately in a heavy-handed way,” said Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., principal author of the broader measure.

In a victory for social conservatives, the House voted 240-185 to block federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., who proposed the move, said, “It is morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans and use them to fund organizations that provide and promote abortion.”

At the end of a week of sessions stretching well past midnight, the House moved toward a final vote on the $1.2 trillion bill that is needed to keep the government in operation when existing funding authority expires March 4.

The measure, packed with cuts to hundreds of programs and terminations of others, faces a veto threat from President Obama and implacable opposition from majority Democrats in the Senate. As a result, it is unclear how much of it will become law.

The flurry of decisions during the day, combined with votes cast earlier in the week, underscored the impact on the House of the freshmen who were elected to their first terms last fall with tea party support.

Debate over abortion grew intense Thursday night, when Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., read a description of a graphic second-trimester abortion procedure on the House floor.

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., responded by disclosing having undergone an abortion as her 17-week pregnancy was failing. “For you to suggest, as you have, that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought is preposterous,” she said.

Under current law, federal funds may not be used for abortions except in the cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger.

Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said the GOP proposal would “make it harder to access Pap tests, breast exams, routine gynecological examinations, flu vaccinations, smoking cessation services, cholesterol screening, contraceptives and all of the other services that Planned Parenthood provides.”

On another front, Republicans voted to ban the use of federal funds to implement the health care law. The House has voted previously to repeal the law.

The move to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse-gas polluters came from Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, who said his congressional district is home to more oil refineries than any other.

“We’re in the midst of a massive economic downturn, and the last thing we need to do is shoot ourselves in the foot with unnecessary, expensive new regulations that are on business and industry,” he said.

But Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., said the proposal was the worst of a series of GOP-backed regulation-negating provisions.

Citing a widespread scientific consensus that greenhouse gases cause climate change, he said, “This amendment bars EPA from acting, from carrying out its responsibilities.”

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., backed the move to block the Obama administration from enforcing a proposed regulation setting requirements for schools in order for their students to receive federal loans or grants. The requirements involve the amount of debt students accumulate and their earning potential after graduation.

Kline labeled the proposed rule “an outright attack on the private sector” that was costing jobs and would continue to do so.

But critics said the for-profit private schools run up large profit margins while leaving graduates with unmanageable debt. The colleges enroll only 10 to 12 percent of students in the country, yet receive 23 percent of all federal loans and grants.

Kline’s proposal was approved 289-136, and Poe’s restriction on the EPA was backed 249-176.