Bush Voices Support For Guest Worker Bill

President Bush met in Tucson this week with the two authors of the Border Security and Immigration Improvement Act, Senator John McCain and Representative Jim Kolbe, both Republicans of Arizona.

The Act would allow millions of guest workers to live and work in the United States with temporary visas, including illegal immigrants already in the country.

Supporters of the bill say the legislation will reduce migrant deaths along the US-Mexico border and provide a supply of low-skilled labor to employers across the nation.

The President said he supported the controversial bill during talks with the legislators, with whom he also addressed the nation's forest fire policy.

"The president was enthusiastic about the bill," Rep. Kolbe told the Tucson Citizen. "He is supportive and told us to take the legislation up with his staff."

President Bush has long made his support for a guest-worker program clear, but the idea lost momentum after Sept 11. Senior members of the White House have been in ongoing discussions with Mexican officials who are pushing for the program's passage.