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Editorial: End the debate debate
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As a candidate, you've been offered not one, but two chances to broadcast to a wide audience the reasons why you should be sent to Congress. Sounds like political nirvana, yes? Not, apparently, to Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona, and Democrat challenger Cheri Bustos, who have not only failed to jump at the chance for two debates on Quad-Cities airwaves, they can't agree on which offers to choose. Rep. Schilling has accepted only the invitation to a debate sponsored by WQAD and these newspapers. But not to the one sponsored by KWQC-TV and the Quad-City Times, which Ms. Bustos has agreed to. Though she has not yet declined the invitation from Illinois media, she has not accepted it. "We felt that one debate was ample for the Quad-City area," said Schilling spokesman Jon Schweppe. We can't help but recall when supporters of challenger Bobby Schilling would have begged for such exposure in his bid to oust incumbent Rep. Phil Hare. What a difference incumbency makes. As for Ms. Bustos, we expected this former reporter and editor to see the value in more debates and quickly jump at both opportunities. But if her campaign intends to participate in only one, we wonder why she chose an event sponsored by the Iowa-based TV station and newspaper. There are no votes to be mined in Iowa for a candidate seeking to represent Illinois. Money may also be poisoning the well. Both campaigns have buckets of it, and will get buckets more for a race that has captured the national spotlight. So called super PACs also are likely to play a part. Such an infusion of campaign cash from outside interests to buy negative advertising increases the value of debates for both voters and candidates. Rep. Schilling and Ms. Bustos should seize every opportunity to give voters the facts behind the spin. Indeed, if the candidates pass up this excellent opportunity, both they and the voters lose. We urge them to end the debate debate and find a way to make both happen. 
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Today is Thursday, June 20, the 171st day of 2013. There are 194 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: The latest interpretation of the conscription law is said to be that $800 can be paid for an exemption, in which case the person will be eligible for call ina subsequent draft; or a substitute can be furnished. In the latter case, if the substitute isaccepted, the person he represents is exempted for that draft period.
1888 -- 125 years ago: A floral concert presented by Central Presbyterian Church womenattracted a large crowd yesterday.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Milton Reed, infielder on the Davenport baseball club, has beensold to the Philadelphia National league team.
1938 -- 75 years ago: The State Bank of Rock Island has doubled its capital structure,raising it to $1 million, according to Lewis B. Wilson, president of the bank.
1963 -- 50 years ago: The American Wind Symphony Orchestra will present two concertsin the Quad-Cities on Aug. 6, performing from its specially equipped stage-barge. Thebarge, which is traveling the Mississippi River route, will be moored just off the shore forthe concerts.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Fines for overdue items at the Rock Island Public Library are beingincreased to 10 cents per day per item effective July 1. Fines will not be prorated onbooks returned after that date.
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