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Feb 23, 2006 1:41 pm US/Mountain

Tancredo Challenges McCain Worker Program

(AP) WASHINGTON Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., on Thursday challenged a guest-worker program promoted by Sen. John McCain and offered to debate the Arizona Republican on immigration policy.

The challenge came as McCain prepared for a national tour to promote the guest-worker proposal. A spokeswoman for McCain was not immediately available to comment.

McCain and co-sponsor Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., have said their proposal would help employers and secure the borders by better regulating immigration. It also would help illegal workers earn legal status.

The Senate is expected to consider their bill and others this spring.

Last December, Tancredo helped pass legislation to tighten border security and prevent illegal immigrants from getting jobs.

"We could present our two views of immigration reform so the American people could compare our approaches side-by-side," Tancredo wrote to McCain.