http://www.kxlf.com/Global/story.asp?S=4695561

CAPITOL HILL The usual alliances aren't holding as the Senate begins debate on the hot-button immigration issue.

In a split with longtime Democratic allies, the AFL-CIO is criticizing plans to expand guest worker programs for illegal immigrants. Union chief John Sweeney says guest worker programs "are a bad idea and harm all workers."

There's also division with the G-O-P on the immigration issue. The Republican-controlled House approved a bill that doesn't include a guest worker program. President Bush has repeatedly stressed he wants that to be part of any immigration measure. Some other Republicans also support a guest-worker program, but it is not part of a bill proposed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. His bill focuses on border security and is the bill the senate begins debating today.