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Immigration reform among topics during Markey-Musgrave debate
By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 13, 2008 at 8:31 p.m.

Betsy Markey and Marilyn Musgrave face off in a 4th congressional district debate in Fort Morgan on Monday.

FORT MORGAN — Immigration reform, food safety and water shortages were among the agricultural topics addressed in the second debate between Republican incumbent Marilyn Musgrave and Democratic challenger Betsy Markey on Monday night.

Both support a guest worker program so that farmers can benefit from seasonal labor, as well as the need for border control and a employee verification system.

But Markey charged that Musgrave has done little in way of introducing legislation to address immigration reform.

"Congress failed us, which is why we are where we are," she said.

Musgrave and Markey are battling it out in a no-holds-barred race for the 4th Congressional District, the tightest congressional contest in the state.

The debate centered on agriculture, which is the No. 1 economic driver in the district, which encompasses 18 counties in the rural eastern plains and the northern stretches of Colorado.

Musgrave, who is running for a fourth term, seemed to have a slight edge over her opponent coming into the debate.

www.rockymountainnews.com