BOISE, Idaho - Idaho may become the latest in a flood of states to oppose a federal law requiring a standardized national driver's license, out of concern over its cost and intrusiveness on personal privacy.

At least 17 states - including neighboring Washington, Wyoming, Utah and Montana - have passed or are considering legislation asking Congress to dump the "Real ID" project. The Idaho House Transportation Committee will debate a resolution opposing it Wednesday.

Supporters in the federal Department of Homeland Security say Real ID is needed to prevent terrorists and illegal immigrants from getting fake ID cards. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter co-sponsored the act in 2005 while he was a U.S. representative from Idaho, but now has concerns about it, a spokesman said.

Groups often at odds with each other, including the conservative Cato Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union, have linked up in an unusual alliance and are calling on Idaho lawmakers to join others who have already sent Congress a message: Real ID should to be reconsidered.

"There is a rebellion sweeping across this country," said Barry Steinhardt, an ACLU lawyer on a panel Tuesday at the Idaho Capitol.

Jim Harper, a Cato Institute privacy issues adviser, fears personal data collected at a national repository will eventually be misused.

"There would be data about us and where we've been, as we go about our lawful daily business," Harper said. "It advances the ball toward a surveillance society."

Passed by Congress and signed by President Bush as part of a funding package for the Iraq war, Real ID sets a national standard for driver's licenses and requires states to link their records to national databases.

States will have to comply by 2008. If they don't, licenses that don't meet the standard won't be valid to board an airplane, enter a federal building or open some kinds of bank accounts.

The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates Real ID could cost states $11 billion during its first five years, in part because everybody would be required to get new driver's licenses and because of strict requirements to verify individual personal data. The conference wants states to pressure Congress to pay for document verification systems.

"There is nothing in (President Bush's) fiscal year 2007 or 2008 budget proposals," said Jeremy Meadows, the group's transportation policy adviser. His group predicts chaos at state driver's license offices.

"This is obviously going to be a major disruption in customer service," Meadows said.

Despite his sponsorship, Otter now fears Real ID could cost Idaho money, an aide said, based on discussions between Otter's office and the Idaho Department of Transportation.

"We understand the reporting requirements are more onerous," said Mark Warbis, Otter's communication chief.

The Transportation Department contends re-enrollment and verification requirements of Real ID could overwhelm the Division of Motor Vehicles, according to a department report obtained by The Associated Press. The report concludes changes to state law will be needed, as well as "pre-verification centers" to check identity documentation before residents renew their licenses.

"Nationwide, it is estimated that traffic in DMV offices will increase 75 percent," the report said.

According to the resolution Idaho lawmakers will consider Wednesday, "we support the government of the United States in its campaign to secure our country, while affirming the commitment of the United States that this campaign not be waged at the expense of the essential civil rights and liberties of the citizens of this country."

Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol and a limited-government proponent sponsoring the resolution, called Real ID "a backdoor attempt by the federal government to impose a national ID card on the states."

If it passes, Hart's resolution won't carry the force of law.

Rather, it's a message to Congress and President Bush that Idaho lawmakers are unhappy with the plan and want changes.