Fox News 2015 GOP primary debate: on Jobs

Chris Christie: New Jersey had 0% job growth; then I created 192,000 jobs

CHRISTIE: If you think it's bad now, you should've seen it when I got there. The fact is, in the 8 years before I became governor, taxes and fees were raised at the state level 115 times; spending was increased 56%; and there was zero net private sector job growth in New Jersey. Zero. For 8 years. So, what did we do? We came in, we balanced an $11 billion deficit on a $29 billion budget by cutting over 800 programs in the state budget. We brought the budget into balance with no tax increases. In fact, we vetoed 5 income tax increases during my time as governor. And, what's happened since? 192,000 private sector jobs in the 5 years I've been governor. We have a lot of work to do in New Jersey, but I am darn proud we've brought our state back.

Rick Santorum: Look out for American workers, not for profits or votes

You see, you have one side, the Democrats, and with immigration, all they care about is votes. They don't care about American workers, they just care about bringing as many people in so they can get as many votes as they can. On the other side, you have so many Republicans, and what do they care about? Helping business make profits. There's nobody out there looking out for the American worker.

I'm looking out for the American worker. I'm the only one on this stage who has a plan that's actually reduced--actually going to reduce immigration. Actually going to do something to help the American worker. And you combine that with a plan to make manufacturing--this country number one in manufacturing, you've got someone who's going to help revitalize and give hope to America, the place--the place is that is the most hopeless today.

Rick Santorum: Create a manufacturing job juggernaut by a 20% flat tax rate

Scott Walker: Unemployment dropped in my term from 8% to 4%

WALKER: Well, the voters in Wisconsin elected me last year for the third time because they wanted someone who aimed high, not aimed low. Before I came in, the unemployment rate was over eight percent. It's now down to 4.6 percent. We've more than made up for the jobs that were lost during the recession. And the rate in which people are working is almost five points higher than it is nationally. You know, people like Hillary Clinton think you grow the economy by growing Washington. [But] one of the best things we can do is get the government out of the way. That's what I'll do as president, just like I did in Wisconsin.