U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, said Wednesday he's not fretting about Democrats taking control of Congress next year, but feels badly that Republicans failed to follow through on their pledges to cut spending and reduce government's size.

Democrats will bring the issues of national health care and raising the minimum wage to the forefront, while efforts to replace the income tax with a national retail sales tax will be a low priority for at least the next two years, said Coburn, a co-sponsor of what is known as the "fair tax."

"This is the way our country works," Coburn said. "It's healthy for our country to have this change because now you're going to get to see what they (Democrats) really believe rather than what they said they believe. And then we'll be reminded once again why we had a Republican Congress -- hopefully then we'll have real Republicans in the seats."

Coburn, speaking to the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee, said it was too early to discuss Republican presidential contenders for 2008. Instead, attention should be focused on dealing with the Social Security's woes and the increasing budget deficit.

"We need to be working with the problems that are in front of us today and holding people's feet to the fire to do what is right and what is best for the long-term interests of this country," he said.

"Trust our founders. Our country will live through anything as long we have a participatory democracy."

Coburn said he expects an immigration bill will pass. His goal is to make sure the measure secures America's southern border and establishes a worker identification system, where an illegal immigrant cannot be hired and an employer cannot hire them without significant costs to both. He said he supports a "compassionate response" to illegal immigrants already in the United States, but opposes amnesty.

Kevin Calvey, a former state representative and unsuccessful congressional candidate, asked Coburn whether the Democrats' taking control means the United States would pull out of Iraq. Calvey, a member of the Oklahoma National Guard and a supporter of the American effort there, is scheduled to be deployed early next year to Iraq.

"If you listened to the president yesterday, we're not cutting and running, period," Coburn said.

Responding to a comment from state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, who plans to reintroduce legislation again next year to crack down on illegal immigrants in Oklahoma, Coburn said he felt states have the right to pass laws on typically federal issues such as immigration if the federal government is not taking any action.