A busy schedule will keep U.S. Rep. Bill Sali from participating in an Idaho Public Television debate that would have pitted him against his GOP primary opponent.

Sali was elected to represent Idaho’s 1st Congressional District in 2006 and faces a primary challenge from Iraq veteran Matt Salisbury. A Sali spokesman says the congressman doesn’t have time in his schedule for the debate, which was scheduled to be taped Sunday.

Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, who is vying for the Republican Senate nomination, has also declined to participate in the IPTV live debate.