Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., there aren't enough wealthy Americans to pay for "all the socialism" that he said Democrats want to enact.

"There aren't enough millionaires and billionaires to pay for all the socialism that Democrats want to give away," Cruz said during a CNN town hall debate Tuesday.

"Democrats have one talking point on taxes: it's a tax cut for the rich. And they say it over and over and over again in response to everything. The most important thing for you to know when you're at home is when they say 'rich,' they mean taxpayer. Every time they say 'rich,' they mean taxpayers," Cruz said.

"Why is it? Because the very rich — there aren't enough of them," Cruz continued.

"If you took every single person in America making over $1 million, and you taxed them 100 percent of their income, you took every penny they earned — you came in jackboots and confiscated it — it would pay 8 percent of the cost of Bernie's tax plan."

Sanders responded that when Cruz discussed Sanders' plan to increase taxes, he did not mention "the other half of the sentence." Taxpayers would pay more, but "you would not have to pay private premiums to an insurance company."

The debate also included Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., with Sanders and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., with Cruz.

Cruz said the Democrats want to give "free stuff, free healthcare, free education, but you know what, it's going to be Bernie and Maria deciding what you get. Tim and I have a simpler view. You keep your money, you get to decide if you want to invest in your decision."

At another point in the debate, Sanders said he would work with Republicans on the tax bill if they delayed the vote on the current proposal.