MADISON, Wis. -- Let the political theater begin.

The Wisconsin Senate is scheduled to begin debate on a $58 billion state budget on Tuesday. Democrats who have a narrow 18-15 majority will be pushing to make a number of changes.

The most expensive element by far is a $15 billion universal health care plan.

Republican lawmakers have loudly opposed that plan and other changes Senate Democrats will be pushing, but given the Democrats' majority, all of the changes are expected to pass.

That doesn't mean they will ever become law.

The Republican-controlled Assembly must also pass a budget and then differences will be worked out by a special bipartisan committee of lawmakers.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle must also sign the budget before it takes effect.

Some Capitol watchers warn that many of the changes made in either chamber of the Legislature are symbolic or offered as bargaining chips for later in the budget-writing process.

After the budget clears the Senate on Tuesday, it will be debated by the Assembly, which is expected to be starkly different from what the Senate passes.

Even so, Democrats plan to add in a new universal health care plan, domestic partner benefits for state workers and funding for a variety of construction projects at the University of Wisconsin.

Most of the major parts of the plan that made it out of the budget-writing committee weren't expected to change.

Those included a cigarette tax increase, a tax on hospitals, a tax on oil companies, and an expansion of the state's health insurance program for low-wage earners.

For the latest information about what's happening at the state Capitol, visit WISC-TV reporter Colin Benedict's blog.