Incumbent Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin squared off last night against his Republican opponent Jim Oberweis in their first televised debate.
Durbin and Oberweis sparred over gun control, raising the minimum wage, and immigration reform. The senate candidates also differed over how the U.S should deal with travelers in light of Ebola, now a local issue: a child who came to Chicago from Liberia is being tested for the deadly disease.
Oberweis, a state senator, says he’d support restricting travel from three West African countries where Ebola is widespread.
"It seems to me our government should have weeks ago established visa limits for those three countries and much more careful travel restrictions from those three countries," said Oberweis.
But Durbin says a travel ban would encourage West Africans to head to neighboring countries for flights to the U.S.
"And then the disease spreads. I think the surveillance over passengers boarding and coming off of planes is the right approach," said Durbin.
Health officials emphasize there have been no confirmed Ebola cases in Chicago.