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PHOENIX -- Unwilling to wait for a federal fix, some Southern Arizona lawmakers want the state to run its temporary foreign worker program.

The proposal crafted by Sen. Marsha Arzberger, D-Willcox, would let companies which are suffering a "labor shortage'' to seek permission from the state Industrial Commission to bring in their own workers from Mexico. It even would have the state provide identification cards to the foreigners given permission to work here.

"The federal government has not met the responsibility to come up with comprehensive immigration reform,'' she said.

"Our economy is hurting,'' Arzberger continued. And she said many firms have found themselves without the workers they need.

SB 1482 has drawn a number of cosponsors, including many of the legislators who represent the border area. And even Senate President Tim Bee, who did not sign on as a sponsor, said he supports the concept of a legal guest worker program.