DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Republicans rejected a measure that would have allowed illegal immigrant students attend state colleges at discounted tuition rates.

Republicans on a GOP-controlled committee expressed concern that the students would have a hard time finding jobs because of their illegal status even if they got a college degree. The measure failed on a party-line vote Wednesday.

The bill would let students who graduate from a Colorado high school could qualify for a tuition rate lower than the out-of-state price, but slightly higher than the resident rate. Students would need to have graduated from a state high school after three years of attendance.

Democrats said the students deserve a chance to continue their education at an affordable rate because the state has spent money educating them in the K-12 system.

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