Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul have emerged as the most aggressive advocates of cutting the federal government over the first four Republican debates, which would have been almost devoid of talk about reduced spending without them.
The term "cut spending" has only appeared a few times during the debates that started in August, and most Republicans haven't offered much in the way of specifics during the debates on the subject.
But while many GOP candidates have briefly mentioned reduced spending or the need to tackle the $18.6 trillion national debt, it's been Cruz and Paul who have offered the most specifics.
Cruz started in the first GOP debate back in August by saying Republicans have failed to rein in spending as voters have demanded.
"There is a reason that we have $18 trillion in debt," he said. "Because as conservatives, as Republicans, we keep winning elections. We got a Republican House, we've got a Republican Senate, and we don't have leaders who honor their commitments. I will always tell the truth and do what I said I would do."
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