ABC This Week interviews during 2015: on Budget & Economy

Ben Carson: Raise debt limit on condition of making cuts

CARSON: We get into this question every year. It's ridiculous that we wait until we're right up against the wall and then we say, yes, we've got to raise it or we're going to default. What we need to do is, at the beginning of the financial cycle, determine where we're going to make the cuts so that we don't wind up in this situation every single year.

Q: But this is money we've already spent. These are bills we have to pay

CARSON: Well, I recognize that our backs are up against the wall in a couple of weeks and we have to do that in order to prevent a default. However, this should be the last time we have to do it.

Q: So you would raise it this time but not again?

CARSON: I would raise it this time with the stipulation that we are going to go and look at those 645 government agencies and sub-agencies and we're going to find fat and we're going to get rid of it.

Rick Perry: Texas is primarily responsible for national job creation

Bernie Sanders: Economic issues take a larger toll on minority groups

But to be honest with you, given the disparity that we're seeing in income and wealth in this country, it applies even more to the African-American community and to the Hispanic community. And what we are going to do is make a major outreach effort to those communities.

Ted Cruz: Top 1% under Obama got fat & happy while workers are hurting

CRUZ: Well, look, if Hillary Clinton wants to run by telling Americans that the economy is doing great and you can credit President Obama and Hillary Clinton for that, I would encourage her to follow that strategy. Because the simple reality is, that's true for the wealthy. The top 1% under President Obama, the millionaires and billionaires that he constantly demagogued, earned a higher share for our income than any year since 1928. Those with power and influence who walk the corridors of power of the Obama administration have gotten fat and happy under big government. But I'll tell you, hardworking men and women across America are hurting. We today have the lowest labor force participation since 1978: 92 million Americans aren't working, and we've seen wages stagnate.

Ben Sasse: Dysfunctional Congress hasn't passed budget in 6 years

SASSE: Well, first we have to pass a budget. There's only been one budget passed in the last six years, so obviously, we need to demonstrate an ability to govern. But we also need to admit that the big challenges facing this country aren't going to be solved in the next 24 months. We need to set the stage for a 2016 presidential election.

Ben Sasse: Raising debt ceiling ok if part of long-term reform

SASSE: Obviously a country that functions needs to pay its bills. But we need to have a long-term conversation about actually dealing with all the structural insolvency in our entitlement programs. The debt ceiling is less than a quarter of the real problem. The unfunded obligations in our entitlement programs are three and four times--

Q: So it sounds like you would vote for it?

SASSE: As a part of a down payment on a long-term reform, absolutely.