MADISON, Wis.  The State Assembly approved a bill Friday to limit the collective bargaining rights for most public workers, but the measure stalled because Senate Democrats remained out of the state as part of an effort to derail the legislation.

Republican Assembly leaders halted debate early Friday morning and called for a vote, infuriating Democrats who were still lined up to speak on amendments. As the Republicans walked out with a police escort shortly after, Democrats shouted at them, “Shame!” About 30 legislators, caught off-guard by the sudden end to what had been a 60-hour debate, did not have time to cast a vote before the measure passed by 51-17.

The State Senate cannot vote on the legislation without a quorum of 20 members. There are only 19 Republicans in the Senate, and their Democratic counterparts remained in Illinois to prevent a vote. Wisconsin troopers do not have jurisdiction to order them back home.

Before the vote, Senate Republicans once again issued a “call to the house,” sending out troopers in the hope of finding at least some of the Senate Democrats at home. They found none.