Some Senate Republicans accused Democrats on Wednesday of watering down the state's tough anti-illegal immigration law by passing a measure to ensure that legal residents without identification do not lose government services.

The Democratic-controlled Senate fast-tracked the bill, which extends temporary ID rules that were set to expire today. That would give state agencies more time to put permanent rules in place.

"This bill is to make sure that lawful citizens can continue to receive benefits," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver.

"It's the right thing to do."

Some Republicans complained, however, that House Bill 1314, which extends the waiver process to July 1, grants agencies broad authority to implement rules that could make it easier for illegal immigrants to gain government benefits.

Republicans floated a failed amendment to extend the deadline until April 1.

Sen. David Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, accused Democrats of trying to undo the new anti-immigration law with piecemeal bills that weaken it.

He charged that it's largely being done to make it easier for the ski industry and farmers to hire illegal immigrants as seasonal workers.

"My goal is to make sure we remain strong on illegal immigration," Schultheis said.

But Sen. Gail Schwartz, D- Snowmass Village, said many foreign workers with legitimate visas risk losing public housing on the outskirts of ski resorts.

The state, she and others said, needs more time to determine which federal documents should be acceptable to work and live in the Colorado.

The debate comes six months after the legislature enacted House Bill 1023, which denies illegal immigrants most government services.

The new law, touted as one of the toughest immigration measures in the nation, requires Colorado residents to prove lawful presence to both local and state agencies to obtain government benefits.

Democratic leaders had pledged to review the law, but so far during the 2007 legislative session, no bill has been introduced to ease what some have called the measure's harmful impacts.

Meanwhile, farmers and ski resorts have griped that they've been hit hard by the law. Five Colorado farmers are contracting for prisoners to work their fields this summer because migrant workers are choosing to work elsewhere.