CNBC 2015 GOP primary debate: on Social Security

Carly Fiorina: No Constitutional role for federally set up retirement plans

Few candidates are willing to admit to similar views about the Constitution. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a libertarian, has called for the Supreme Court to repeal much of the modern regulatory state, but even he said during the debate that programs like Medicare and Social Security are legitimate tasks for the federal government to undertake. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has claimed that the federal Department of Education is unconstitutional, but he's also likened lawmakers who want to cut Social Security benefits to robbers and muggers.

Carly Fiorina: Companies should provide benefits, but don't require any

A: No, the Federal Government should not play a larger role. Every time the Federal Government gets engaged in something it gets worse. And then the Government steps in to try and solve the problem and we get a little further down to that progressive vision that Hillary Clinton is talking about.

Chris Christie: Cut benefits for people earning over $80,000

CHRISTIE: Let me be honest with the people who are watching at home. The government has lied to you, and they have stolen from you. They told you that your Social Security money is in a trust fund. All that's in that trust fund is a pile of IOUs from money they spent on something else a long time ago. And they stole it from you because now they know they cannot pay these benefits, and Social Security is going to be insolvent in seven to eight years

HUCKABEE: Yes, we've stolen. Yes, we've lied to the American people. But you know what we're not telling them? It's their money. This is money that people have confiscated out of their paychecks.

Chris Christie: Increase the retirement age because people living longer

Jeb Bush: Means-testing: wealthiest shouldn't receive same benefits

HUCKABEE: When I hear people talking about means testing, let's just remember it means that the government decides whether or not I deserve it. If a person lives in a seven-room house, does the government get to say you don't need seven rooms, we're going to take two of them away? Folks, the government has no business stealing even more from the people who have paid this in. I just want to remind you: People paid their money; they expect to have it.

Lindsey Graham: 50% of seniors would be in poverty without Social Security

Marco Rubio: No benefits changes for my mom and others of her generation

PAUL: The [eligibility] age will have to gradually rise. It's the only way you fix Medicare, the only way you fix Social Security. You will also have to means-test the benefits.

CHRISTIE: We're living longer. We have to increase the retirement age to reflect that blessing.

CARSON: The plan gives people the option of opting out of Medicare.

RUBIO: We are talking about reforms for future generations. Q Nothing has to change for current beneficiaries. My mother is on Medicare and Social Security. I'm against anything that's bad for my mother. We're talking about reform for people like me who are years away from retirement and have a way to plan for these changes. It's not too much to ask of our generation after everything our parents and our grandparents did for us.

Mike Huckabee: Don't use Social Security Trust Fund to borrow more money

HUCKABEE: Yes, we've lied to the American people. But you know what we're not telling them? It's their money. This is not entitlement; it's not welfare. This is money that people have confiscated out of their paychecks. Today Congress decided to take another $150 billion away from Social Security so they can borrow more money. they're always going to say, "well, we're going to fix this one day." No, they're not. This is a matter not of math; this is a matter of morality. If this country does not keep its promise to seniors, then what promise can this country hope to be trusted to keep?

Mike Huckabee: Means-testing lets government decide what you deserve

Folks, the government has no business stealing even more from the people who have paid this in. I just want to remind you: People paid their money; they expect to have it. And if this government doesn't pay it, then tell me what's different between the government and Bernie Madoff, who sits in prison today, for doing less than what the government has done to the people on Social Security and Medicare in this country.

Rand Paul: Shifting payroll tax to business helps middle class the most

PAUL: Much of the discussion is centered over whether or not the different tax plans help the middle class. In fact, it's the chief argument by Democrats against many of the different flat tax proposals. Mine is unique in the sense that my tax plan actually gets rid of the payroll tax as well. It shifts it to the business, and it would allow middle class people to get a tax cut. If you just cut their income tax, there isn't much income tax to cut. Mine actually cuts the payroll tax, and I think it would spread the tax cut across all socioeconomic levels, and would allow then it to be something that would be broadly supported by the public in an election.

CRUZ: Rand's plan is a good plan. My 10% plan also eliminates the payroll tax.

Rand Paul: Gradually raise the age, if we're serious about fixing it

Rand Paul: Raise eligibility age; and means-test benefits

Ted Cruz: No changes for seniors; personal accounts for young

CRUZ: Governor Huckabee is exactly right, we need to honor the promises made to our seniors. But for younger workers--look, I'm 44 years old--it is hard to find someone in my generation that thinks Social Security will be there for us. We can save and preserve and strengthen Social Security by making no changes for seniors; but for younger workers, gradually increasing the retirement age, changing the rate of growth so that it matches inflation and critically allowing younger workers to keep a portion of our tax payments in a personal account that we own, we control, and we can pass on to our kids. We can do both.