( CNN ) -- Tensions simmered in Wisconsin as a political stalemate continued Friday after the state 's Assembly passed a Republican bill that would strip most state workers of the bulk of their collective-bargaining rights . Among other things , the measure would require workers -- with the exception of police and firefighters -- to cover more of their health care premiums and pension contributions . Collective bargaining would be limited to wages , though any pay increases beyond the inflation rate would be subject to voter approval . Democrats chanted `` shame , shame , shame '' moments after the vote , pointing their fingers at the exiting Republican lawmakers . But the fight over the bill appears far from over . It still must clear the Wisconsin Senate , a step that is likely to prove far more contentious . Fourteen Democratic senators have fled to neighboring Illinois to prevent a quorum from voting on the issue , and they remained absent early Friday . Gov . Scott Walker reiterated his call for Democrats to return to the Legislature , defending the bill . `` Collective bargaining is a fiscal matter , '' said Walker , who toured multiple state districts Friday in an effort to pressure the absentee lawmakers . But Democrats said the governor 's proposal is tantamount to union-busting . `` The vote we took was n't the easy thing to do , but it was the right thing to do , '' Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder , a Republican , said early Friday . `` I continue to urge my Democrat colleagues in the Senate to come back to Madison so that they can debate this bill and do their job for the taxpayers of Wisconsin . '' Thousands have protested the legislation in recent days . On Thursday , Walker also called on Democrats to come back to Madison `` and do their job . '' The absence of the Democrats prevents a quorum from voting on the bill . `` It is a serious breach , '' said University of Chicago law professor Richard Epstein . `` We 're looking at a set of novel and unprecedented actions . But a breakdown of the democratic process and mayhem are two different things . '' If the Democrats are `` willing to go to the mattresses on this , then it has got to be worth a lot of money , '' he said . At a Thursday night news conference , Walker said if the Legislature does not pass his budget bill , state aid to local governments could be cut , brushing off critics who said the legislation will destroy public employee unions in the state . `` Wisconsin state employees have the strongest civil protections in the country . That 's not going to change in this bill , '' Walker said . `` It 's not about the union boss coming in from other parts of the country . It 's about whether we protect the taxpayers and the workers . '' One lawmaker who left the state , Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller , said in a response from Rockford , Illinois , that Walker should `` recognize that he got what he wants '' in concessions on pension and health insurance contributions and relent on curbing collective-bargaining rights . The confrontation reached a fever pitch after Walker was recorded during a prank phone call discussing the idea of duping absentee Democrats by luring them back to `` talk , not negotiate , '' allow them to recess and then have the 19 Republican senators declare a quorum . The Republican-led Senate presumably then would be able to move forward on the controversial legislation . The state had faced a suggested deadline Friday to balance the budget . The crucial date is March 16 , state officials said . Wisconsin is confronted with a $ 137 million budget shortfall by June 30 and a $ 3.6 billion gap by 2013 . CNN 's Alan Silverleib contributed to this report .
Democrats chanted `` shame , shame , shame '' moments after assembly vote . Fourteen Democratic senators have fled the state in bid to keep bill from passing . Comment: Wisconsin State Assembly passed controversial legislation .