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Madison, WI, United States (AHN) – Wisconsin Assembly Democrats were forced to agree to limit debate on an anti-union bill that workers continue to protest against in the Capitol. State troopers sent by officials early Thursday failed to find any Democratic state senators, who have fled the state to prevent a quorum.

Legislation outlining the budget proposal of Gov. Scott Walker moved forward with debate on amendments from each Democratic member of the Assembly.

A vote may be held later in the day, after which the measure heads to the state Senate, where 14 Democrats remain absent in boycott.

State Rep. Peter Barca, the Democratic minority leader, refuted reports that they had agreed to a “deal” with Assembly Republicans.

“Democrats did not make a deal this morning,” Barca said in a statement. “The Republican majority issued an ultimatum and demanded a limit on the number of amendments… only one additional amendment per Democratic Assembly member would be allowed. The only other option they presented was to cut off debate entirely.”

Assembly Democrats have been on the chamber floor for nearly 48 straight hours since session reconvened on Tuesday. Their state Senate counterparts continue a boycott outside the state.

State troopers were sent early Thursday to the homes of the senators in a Republican attempt to force them to go to the legislature.

The budget bill has gained national attention for igniting a protest of thousands of workers in and around the capitol, and spreading labor unrest in neighboring states. The measure seeks to close a $137 million budget deficit by, among other ways, curtailing collective bargaining rights of unions.

The governor said the bill would save local governments and school districts $724 million a year. The legislation does not raise taxes, and requires public employees to contribute 12 percent of their health care premiums and about 5 percent of their pension costs.

Democrats are politically aligned with unions and oppose curbing the bargaining rights of workers. They have also pointed out that Walker has called on state Senators to “come back and debate the bill,” yet has refused to negotiate the legislation with them.

In addition, Democrats cite provisions in the measure that allow the sale of state-owned power plants without the transparency of a bidding process.

A recorded phone conversation the governor was having with a blogger posing as billionaire industrialist David Koch, a campaign donor of the governor and other Republicans, has fueled an already highly charged debate.

It has also led pundits to criticize the governor for accepting a 20-minute phone call from a donor yet refusing requests from Democrats to meet and discuss the bill.

In the conversation, the governor admits to having considered planting troublemakers among protesters. He added he would promise “to talk” with state Senators so they would return but refuse to negotiate once a quorum is established to pass the bill.

Walker has dismissed the phone call as a “distraction.” He said he did not say anything on the call that he has not stated publicly.

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