SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The hot potato topic of illegal immigration has been on the back burner so far during the month-old legislative session in Salem.

But House Republicans are aiming to change that, introducing a sweeping slate of bills at a Friday rally on the Capitol steps that would crack down on illegal immigrants being able to vote, get state jobs and receive some state benefits.

The package of bills are part of a Republican effort to get out in front of an issue that's been gaining attention in Oregon, and hold the feet of their Democratic counterparts, who are in the majority in both chambers, to the fire.

"I am really disturbed by some comments in the media lately from leadership in this building, saying it might take a few more months to get around to doing some of the things we are talking about here today," said Rep. Linda Flores, R-Clackamas, one of the chief sponsors on the immigration package, along with Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer.

"We need to act now," Flores said. "We can't wait a few more months, because it is going to be too little, too late."

Democrats acknowledge that the illegal immigration issue is a potent one, and that some of their own members made campaign promises to crack down on illegals, including a handful of potentially vulnerable freshmen members from swing districts.

"It is true that there were House Democratic candidates who talked about immigration issues," said House Majority Leader Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone. "Because of that, we will pass legislation on immigration, this session."

But other issues, including education, health care reform, job creation and public safety are first up on the Democrats' agenda, he added.

"That's where Oregonians are, that's where our members are and that's where our emphasis is, at this point in the session," Hunt said.

There is some common ground to be found. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed support for a bill to crack down on human trafficking, and both sides say some proof of legal residency should be required in order to obtain an Oregon driver's license.

Other Republican-backed bills, including one to make English the state's official language - which drew the loudest round of applause from the 100 or so people who attended Friday's rally - are unlikely to get very far this session, Hunt said.

Democrats also dismiss the proposal to require proof of citizenship to vote, calling it "a solution in search of a problem."

More controversial could be Flores' and Thatcher's proposal to require Oregon to comply with the federal Real ID Act, which sets a national standard for driver's licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases by May 2008.

Driver's licenses that fall short of the Real ID Act's standards couldn't be used to board an airplane, among other things.

A handful of state legislatures, including Maine, Georgia, Wyoming, Montana and Washington have balked at the law's requirements, saying it's too costly, and could spark widespread identity theft.

Flores said such states would likely fall into line if the federal government fully funded the Real ID Act, adding, "What is really important is that we are able to prove you are who you say you are."

But state Sen. Rick Metsger, who is listed as the sponsor of a Senate version of the Real ID act bill said that while he's in favor of requiring proof of legal residence for an Oregon license, he has concerns with the Real ID act.

"My intention is to replace that bill's language with a strong message to the federal government that we are not going to have a national ID card, and that we will look to the security of our own drivers' licenses in our own way," Metsger said. 

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)