MADISON, Wis. -- A sweeping universal health care plan that would cover virtually every person in the state cleared the Democratic-controlled state Senate Tuesday night as part of the two-year budget.

It now heads to the Assembly, where Republicans who hold a slim majority are expected to delete the plan.

Ultimately, it will be up to a special bipartisan committee with lawmakers from both the Assembly and Senate to work out a budget. It will then be sent to Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle for his signature and vetoes.

Doyle has not said he supports the universal health care plan, but he has not said he would veto it either.

Supporters said it will make Wisconsin a health-care leader. But critics say it is too expensive and will hurt businesses.

The budget passed on a partisan 18-15 vote.

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.