WASHINGTON - Democrats have ignored a Republican boycott and pushed a U.S. climate bill through a key committee by a 10 to 1 vote.

Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer had delayed the crucial vote for days because of a Republican protest over whether the cost of the legislation had been fully examined. But Boxer moved quickly Thursday to pass the bill without the help any of the seven Republican committee members who were not in the room. No amendments were considered.

The bill will now be merged with legislation being written by five other Senate panels. The bill calls for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and factories by 83 percent by 2050. The House has already passed a climate bill.