NORMAL - The three candidates vying for the 11th Congressional District seat took a few shots at U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller, the man they are trying to replace, and at each other during an hour-long debate Thursday at Illinois State University. | Interactive Video: Create your own 11th District debate | Candidate bios

Democrat Debbie Halvorson of Crete, Republican Martin Ozinga of Homer Glen and Green Party candidate Jason Wallace of Normal also covered nine issues, ranging from how they would vote on the proposed $700 billion economic bailout to the war in Iraq.

Ozinga took a few swipes at state Senate Majority Leader Halvorson early in the debate by trying to tie her to Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

During his answer to the first question of the debate - how the candidates would vote on the bailout bill - Ozinga said, "My opponent (Halvorson) doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation."

Ozinga, president of a concrete and material supply company, said he would have voted for the bill.

Halvorson said she did understand the situation, but she would have voted against the bill as presented to the U.S. House on Monday.

In addition to giving her time to answer the question, the debate moderators gave Halvorson the only 30-second rebuttal opportunity of the evening to answer Ozinga's claim.

"It's just a shame to continue to point fingers," Halvorson said in her rebuttal. "Let's talk about what we are for instead of trying to play the blame game."

Wallace said neither party offered a good solution and the money should go to taxpayers. Wallace also noted in his answer that the only person who did not show up to vote on the bailout bill on Monday was Weller. The Morris Republican is retiring at the end of his current term.

Halvorson took her shot at Weller during her closing, saying she has been helping residents at the state level and the federal level "because no one can find their congressman."

Ozinga said he is in favor of a one-year moratorium on the use of earmarks, a practice of adding federal budget requests to pay for special projects in legislators' home districts. During the one-year moratorium the practice would be overhauled to allow for more transparency in the process, he said.

Halvorson said she believes the process of adding earmarks should include a vetting process as well as transparency to show where the money is going.

Wallace said he believes the practice should end. He added that although there have been concerns about Weller's ethics, Weller was able to maintain local support to keep his seat in Congress because he brought home a lot of federal funding.

Wallace, who served in the Air Force, said he believes the troops in Iraq should be brought home immediately.

Ozinga said he believes the troops should be removed from Iraq as soon as possible, but not before specific goals for stabilizing the country are met.

Halvorson said the troops should leave the country quickly, safely and as responsibly as possible.