MADISON, Wis. — The nearly monthlong standoff in the Wisconsin Legislature over explosive union rights legislation rocketed toward a dramatic finish today after Senate Republicans outmaneuvered their missing Democratic counterparts and pushed through the bill.

The dramatic turn of events late Wednesday set up a perfunctory vote this morning in the Assembly on the measure that would strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from most public workers. Once the bill passes the Assembly, it heads to Republican Gov. Scott Walker for his signature.

Within hours after the Senate passed the bill, a crowd of hundreds of protesters grew to about 7,000 in the Capitol, a crowd as large as any seen inside the building over three weeks of demonstrations.

The bill had been stymied after all 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to pass it.

But special committee of lawmakers from both the Senate and Assembly voted late Wednesday afternoon to take all the spending measures out of the legislation and the Senate approved it minutes later 18-1. Republican Sen. Dale Schultz cast the lone no vote.