Warren Buffett paid $6.9 million in federal income taxes in 2010, the billionaire investor said in a letter to a Kansas congressman that adds fuel to the debate over his proposal for higher taxes on the rich.

The figure represent 17.4 percent of his $39.8 million in taxable income, a percentage he has repeatedly said is too low compared to what his own staff pays.

Buffett caused an uproar in August when he said the wealthy should be subject to a higher rate of tax. The White House has co-opted his call into a "Buffett Rule" that would raise levies on the richest people.

Following Buffett's suggestion, Republican congressman Tim Huelskamp of Kansas sent the "Oracle of Omaha" a letter in late September calling on him to release his tax returns.

Huelskamp sent Buffett a second letter reiterating the request earlier this month, and promising to release his own returns if Buffett would as well.

Buffett, the chief executive of the conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, responded in kind on Tuesday, according to a copy of the letter his assistant provided to Reuters on Wednesday.

Buffett reiterated what he saw as the inequality of his paying a rate in the teens when most people who work for him end up paying a rate in the 30 percent range.

But what he told Huelskamp he also wanted was for other ultra-wealthy Americans to release their own returns -- in full, rather than the limited data Buffett himself shared.

"If you could get other ultra rich Americans to publish their returns along with mine, that would be very useful to the tax dialogue and intelligent reform," Buffett said. "I stand ready and willing - indeed eager - to participate in this exercise."

Buffett went on to suggest a method to get reticent moguls to release their returns, among them Rupert Murdoch, whom he has repeatedly challenged on the subject.

"Having the 'favored 400' make their tax returns public - even if only code letters were attached to the various returns - would be a big step in informing legislators and the public of what needs to be done," Buffett wrote.

A spokeswoman for Huelskamp said he would issue a statement later on Wednesday.

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