Senate Democrats are seeking to set the top tax rate ondividends at 23.8 percent, almost 20 percentage points lower thanthe proposal offered by President Barack Obama in his budget.

That detail, along with a top estate tax rate of 45 percent anda one-year patch to prevent the alternative minimum tax fromaffecting millions more families, are part of the written versionof Senate Democrats' attempt to extend expiring income tax cuts forone year. The core of the proposal would extend the George W.Bush-era cuts through 2013 for 98 percent of households whileletting them expire on income above $200,000 for individuals andabove $250,000 for married couples.

A Senate Democratic aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity,confirmed the details. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a NevadaDemocrat, said last week that the Senate will vote before theAugust recess.