Julie Vogtman, Senior Counsel

The clock is ticking down to a vote in the House on the FY 2013 budget resolution introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The vote is scheduled for this afternoon, and, unfortunately, the budget is expected to pass. As we've explained, the Ryan plan would slash vital services for women and their families while giving trillions in tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations. Though Rep. Ryan titled his budget the "Path to Prosperity," it seems clear to me that in his vision, prosperity belongs to the one percent.

Over on the Senate side, however, we can thank Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) for introducing a bill today that would establish a meaningful path to broadly shared prosperity. Sen. Harkin's Rebuild America Act is nearly as sweeping in scope as the Ryan budget but presents an entirely different — and refreshingly positive — vision for our country's future. Where the Ryan budget would shred supports that low- and middle-income people depend on throughout their lives, the Rebuild America Act would invest in measures to help ordinary Americans obtain good jobs; gain access to quality child care, education and job training; and improve their retirement security. And where the Ryan budget would cut essential programs to pay for huge tax breaks for the rich and corporations, the Rebuild America Act would finance needed investments by raising revenue from those with the greatest ability to pay.