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Hawaii Congresspeople Weigh In On Taxes

by Jacob Shafer

December 16, 2010

As President Obama and Congress slogged toward a deal to extend the Bush-era tax cuts, Hawaii’s four federal legislators weighed in...

“I want to ensure that working families, the unemployed and the poor have a good Christmas, and if that means I have to vote to give a big gift to the wealthiest Americans then I will hold my nose and vote for it.”

- Sen. Dan Inouye

“I will support the President’s compromise proposal...but I have strong reservations about continuing tax cuts for the wealthy that recklessly add to the deficit.”

- Sen. Dan Akaka

“Continuing tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, the richest 2 percent of Americans, would add a whopping $700 billion to our deficit over ten years... And, by the way, these richest taxpayers will also get the benefit of this tax relief in this bill for their first $200,000 of income. Why should this group of taxpayers then get an additional benefit that 98 percent of Americans will not?”

- Rep. Mazie Hirono

“I applaud President Obama’s compromise with the Republican leadership on taxes. Congress has dragged its feet for too long on this issue. I repeatedly stated my support for what is now the Obama compromise during the campaign and hope the Democrat leadership will finally agree.”

- Rep. Charles Djou