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DENVER — By denying a supplemental funding request for Colorado’s program issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, Senate Republicans sent an early message last month that they plan to flex their newfound muscle at the Capitol this year.

Democrats, who still control the state House and governor’s office, are ready to up the ante, digging in for what could be a protracted fight over the issue that could threaten all supplemental DMV funding.

It’s a fight, borne out of the federal government’s inaction on immigration reform, that may hold political advantages for both parties.

On Thursday morning, Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, the sponsor of the 2013 legislation that created the new program, introduced a floor amendment that approves the additional funding requested by the DMV to meet the overwhelming demand for the popular program.

Republicans, who now hold an 18-17 majority in the Senate, voted it down as the entire GOP caucus held firm.

If the stalemate persists, the entire supplemental funding appropriation for the DMV could hang in the balance, threatening the money needed for another program, trumpeted by Gov. John Hickenlooper, aimed at reducing wait times.

The governor’s office had been lobbying a couple more moderate GOP lawmakers who might be loathe to further alienate Hispanic voters in their districts: Sen. Larry Crowder of Alamosa and the newly-elected Sen. Beth Martinez-Humenik of Adams County.

A majority of the Senate GOP caucus, however, strongly opposes the program, which many argue incentivizes undocumented people to come here and rewards them for breaking the law.

Democrats, buoyed by support from law enforcement, have argued that licenses for undocumented immigrants make Colorado roads safer because more driver’s have licenses and insurance.

As a result of the Joint Budget Committee’s rejection of the additional funding last month, the DMV moved to shut down four of the five offices where undocumented immigrants could get licenses, only exacerbating the backlog and effectively neutering the program.

Currently, there is a year wait for appointments to receive licenses.