It's not just progressives. It's women as well. Their voices are not heard and represented in the budget deficit talks. There isn't a single woman among the administration officials and elected officials at the table in discussing painful cuts that would impact every element of women's lives. Here's the story below:

Vice President Joe Biden has been leading the negotiations with a bipartisan group of lawmakers: Sens. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and Reps. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew and National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling were also at the latest meeting on Tuesday. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) put out his own budget blueprint that has been shaping the debate for both sides. There hasn't been a single woman given a seat at the budget negotiating table, despite the fact that many proposed cuts would hit programs that disproportionately affect women.

All men. All privileged. All in high seats of power. Where are the women? Why aren't they given a place at the table and progressives as well? It's not the first time this has happened. In the last budget negotiations between administration officials and elected representatives, women weren't represented at the table.

Women -- including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) -- were also left out of final budget negotiations in April, when White House aides gathered with high-level staffers for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to hash out a measure to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. The final deal involved a major battle over women's health, including debates about blocking government funds to Planned Parenthood and banning the District of Columbia from using its own tax revenue to subsidize abortions for low-income women.

Not a single one was there last time, and there isn't one this time around. Who will ensure that women's voices are heard on the budget deficit?