Sen. Daniel Akaka has just released a statement on his rationale for supporting a bill that would extend the Bush tax cuts for American families making less than $250,000 per year but allow the cuts for high earners to lapse.

“This country was founded on principles of fairness and responsibility, and this legislation will help restore those values to our tax system,” Akaka said in a press release. “To cut our deficit, we must ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to schedule a vote on this bill soon and not allow taxes to go up for middle class families because of their inaction.”

Read Akaka’s full statement in the Congressional Record here.

— Michael Levine