First GOP presidential debate: on Budget & Economy

Chris Christie: Work with Democrats to cut debt and cut unemployment

Gov. Chris CHRISTIE: I do agree predominantly with Gov. DeSantis. The difference is that we have to make sure that we sell these ideas. I was elected as a conservative Republican in a blue state with 61% of the vote, with a Democratic legislature and we brought them around to our point of view. We cut taxes in New Jersey. We cut debt in New Jersey. Each time we were confronted with bad Democratic ideas, we stopped them. And when there were good ideas, we brought people together to make progress.

Q: When you were governor, NJ had the 2nd-lowest credit rating in the nation, and it was downgraded 11 times.

CHRISTIE: Yes, that's what happens when you inherit a blue state. But we cut debt, debt that had been left to us by three Democratic gubernatorial predecessors. And cut the unemployment rate in half--and cut pension payments to public employees.

Joe Biden: They call my plan "Bidenomics," but it's working

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: They call my plan Bidenomics. I'm not totally sure they meant it in a totally complimentary way at the time. But guess what? It's working. [end videotape]

Q: But, is it? 65% of Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction.

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): We must reverse Bidenomics so that middle class families have a chance to succeed again.

GOV. DOUG BURGUM: In the Biden economy, we're paying too much for energy right now. But part of the reason why is because the Biden policies on energy.

SEN. TIM SCOTT: Bidenomics has led to the loss of $10,000 of spending power for the average family. We can stop that by turning the spigot.

Mike Pence: I pushed for deficit reduction before it was cool

Vivek RAMASWAMY: The only war that I will declare as US President will be the war on the federal administrative state that is the source of toxic regulations acting like a wet blanket on the economy. So, I'm not sure exactly understood Mike Pence's comment.

PENCE: Let me explain it to you. I was a House conservative leader before it was cool. I actually pushed the Deficit Reduction Act. That was the last time we actually reduced the national debt in the United States. I balanced budgets and cut taxes when I was Governor. Joe Biden has weakened this country at home and abroad. Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don't need to bring in a rookie.

Tim Scott: Turn off the Washington spigot of Bidenomics

SEN. TIM SCOTT: Over the last several years I've had an opportunity to vote against spending package after spending package after spending package. What we also need to understand is that Joe Biden's Bidenomics has led to the loss of $10,000 of spending power for the average family. When you see 16% inflation, your gas is up 40%. Your food is up 20%. Your electricity is up 20%. We can stop that by turning the spigot off at Washington, sending the money back to the states, and allowing the decisions to be made at their own houses. I helped write the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. We cut taxes for single moms by 70%, for dual households by 60%, returning to the average family $4,000. If you don't send it to Washington, we can't spend it. That's good news for the American people.

Nikki Haley: Stop the spending like $2.2T COVID stimulus bill