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Recap of 'Tier Two' Candidates GOP Debate

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A smaller group of candidates, also referred to as Tier 2 candidates, faced off Tuesday night in the Republicans' fourth presidential debate.

The debate, hosted by Fox Business and The Wall Street Journal, included New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Former Senator Rick Santorum, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Jobs, Spending, Energy

Christie started the night stating he would make the tax code fair and simpler, and said he was looking forward to firing IRS agents.

Huckabee added to that, saying "We dont reduce the IRS, we get rid of the IRS."

Click here to watch the Fox Business/Wall Street Journal Republican Presidential debate livestream.

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"Are we willing to cut the government economy so we can grow the American economy? We are on the path to socialism," Jindal said.

"Do you want to give Washington more control over your life?" Christie said, adding that Hillary thinks Washington knows better than the American people.

Huckabee said there's a difference between welfare programs and entitlement mentality. "Nobody who is poor wants to be," he said, adding that he speaks from experience because he grew up poor.

"There's only one of us that has actually cut government spending,... and you're looking at him," Jindal said, adding that Louisiana has cut it's government spending by 20 percent.

Huckabee responded to that claim and said that a lot of candidates have made cuts.

Christie turned the focus of the attention on the Democratic party, saying that if the American people thought a GOP candidate wouldn't cut government funds - they needed to look in comparison at Hillary Clinton.

"She is the real adversary here," he said, greeted by audience applause. "Hillary Clinton is coming for your wallet, everybody. Don't worry about Huckabee or Jindal."

The moderators asked about bailouts and corporations. Santorum voiced his opinion that big corporations shouldn't be bailed out. He pointed out that General Electric and other corporations took business overseas.

"We have a right as a country to compete with other countries that have export financing," he said.

Foreign Policy, Refugees, Economy

Huckabee cautioned about opening our doors freely to migrants and refugees without finding out who they really are, first.

"We're $19 trillion dollars in debt - we can't even afford to take care of Americans," he said, adding that Americans could help the Syrian refugees in other ways, while stabilizing our economy in order to help other countries in the future.

"The Chinese don't take us seriously and why should they?" Christie said, mentioning how he is a victim of Chinese cyber hacking, and that the Obama administration hasn't done anything to prevent it.

Jindal and Christie debated over economic stimulus plans.

Moderators brought up how important it is to reach across the aisle and work with the other party, asking them who from the Democrat party they respect and why. None of the candidates named a Democratic politicitan.

Jindal said it was a silly question - and all politicians, Republican and Democrat should be fired. Huckabee addressed the VA problem, saying that if the Obama administration and Congress had to use the same healthcare Veterans did, then the VA health system would be fixed.

Christie said Democrats aren't standing behind law enforcement. Santorum said he respected that the Democratic party is willing to fight for what they believe in.

Focus on Taxes

Moderators took time to focus specifically on each candidate's tax plan, asking what the high and low tax rates would be for different incomes.

Santorum presented his 20 percent flat tax, and talked about closing loop holes. Christie said 20 percent on the high end and eight percent on the low end and agreed with Santorum on simplifying the tax code.

Jindal said 20 percent would be the highest cap and two percent is the lowest. "That two percent is important - I believe everybody should have skin in the game," he said.

"I want to get rid of the corporate tax," he added. Jindal said the focus should be on shrinking government spending. "We're stealing from our children. That is immoral, it is wrong."

Huckabee talked about a fair tax - saying it was the best solution for economic growth for the U.S. He also that payroll shouldn't be taxed, stating that production shouldn't be punished.

The Fed, VA Crisis

"The Feds should be audited," Christie said, warning again that Hillary Clinton wants Washington to have more power.

"They've (the Fed) been given way too much authority," Santorum, talking about how it hurts the family. He also mentioned the real importance to the economy is the stability of the family.

"The fed has manipulated the standard of the dollar," Huckabee said, stating that the Fed needs to tie the dollar to something stable.

Santorum spoke first about the VA crisis. "The bottom line is that the VA system is antequated," he said, stating that the government hasn't kept their promises to their Veterans.

"Somebody should be going to jail over these scandals," Jindal said of the VA problem.

"Today less than one percent of Americans go to the military," Huckabee noted. He stated that the government hasn't kept their promises to Veterans, even though Veterans have kept their promise to their country.

Christie spoke about how the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton don't support the military.

"Commander-in-Chief is not an entry level job - experience matters," Santorum added.

Closing Statements

Jindal talked about how he is the only GOP candidate who has cut government spending.

"This campaign has been ablout two words for me - working families," Santorum said, adding that the stability and focus of the family unit is the key to winning this election.

"I've never been the favorite of the people with the most money," Huckabee said he would never forget where he came from.

Christie reiterated how Hillary Clinton said she was proud that she had made an enemy with the Republican party, and that if he became President he would focus on other threats like ISIS and terrorism.

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