Yesterday the Senate passed legislation to end the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, but extend them for annual income below $250,000. This passed with only Democratic votes, as Republicans for once decided not to filibuster.

The agreement not to filibuster included the opportunity for Senators to vote on a Republican alternative: which literally cut taxes for the wealthy (by extending the Bush tax cuts) while raising taxes on the poor and middle class (by refusing to extend Obama tax cuts for college tuition and for working familes).

The Republican bill lost on the floor 45-54.

But how many Senators voted to raise taxes on the poor and the middle class, while cutting them for the wealthy … and then refused to back the Democratic bill extending the Bush tax cuts to the middle class only?

In other words, how many Senators believe the problem is the rich pay too much and the poor pay too little in taxes?

44 of ’em. Here they are.

Alexander (R-TN)
Ayotte (R-NH)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coats (R-IN)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lee (R-UT)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Thune (R-SD)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

You might consider picking up the phone and telling them how you feel about that.

And write your representative in the House to urge them to pass the Senate’s middle-class tax cut.