In Montana, we work hard, play by the rules and we honor our word.  It’s too bad our Congress doesn’t operate in the same way.

Instead, the broken world of Washington, D.C.. has produced an irresponsible cycle of failing to solve problems, asking our kids and parents to foot the bill.

These political games have a price. When Congress shut down the government last fall, it leveled a $29 million hit to our state’s economy. That, simply put, is unacceptable.

It’s true that the government must get leaner, we must cut out waste and live within our means — and that takes hard work, open discussion and tough choices. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen that. Instead, we see constant dysfunction resulting in equally constant threats to Medicare and vital services provided to our seniors.

On the heels of record-breaking cold temperatures, I recently volunteered with the Meals on Wheels team in Billings. For many of the people we met, the lunch we delivered would be their only meal of the day.

While Meals on Wheels is an incredibly important program, its parent legislation — The Older Americans Act — has been languishing in Washington. This important legislation, aimed at addressing rising poverty among our parents and grandparents, expired three years ago. Thanks to dysfunction in Washington, programs like Meals on Wheels are in limbo.

I’ll never forget the men and women I met on our route in the Billings Heights; an elderly woman battling illness, a homebound World War II veteran, a widow who can’t cook for herself. And then there are the energetic volunteers who show up five days a week, no matter the weather.

These good people deserve better than what they’re getting from a broken Congress. So do their kids and grandkids.

Throughout the week, we met with a manufacturing company in Laurel, first responders in Missoula, business leaders in the Flathead and high school welding students taking advanced courses at Great Falls College.

Whether it’s a young welder starting out, a working mom at the peak of her earning potential, or a senior in need of a hot meal — they all deserve to know that as they pay their fair share, the rug won’t be pulled out from underneath them when they retire. And that means access to the vital health care provided by Medicare.   

The fact is, Medicare is one of the most popular, successful and efficient government programs ever enacted. It provides health care to more than 49 million Americans, and more than 165,000 Montanans.  Think about it.  More than 1 in 10 of our family, friends and neighbors receive their health care from Medicare. It is a literal lifeline for older Americans and helps provide peace of mind for every American. The principle behind Medicare is simple: You pay into Medicare during your working years and when you turn 65, you partner with the government for your health-care coverage. It’s worked well for nearly 50 years.

In some ways, Medicare is a victim of its own success. It’s been around for so long most of us take for granted that it will be there when we retire.  Today, powerful special interests are looking to fundamentally change or dismantle Medicare altogether through vouchers and caps.

Medicare works for thousands of Montanans every day. My own parents enjoy the benefits of Medicare. And as a husband and father, I want to ensure Medicare is available for our kids and grandkids.

Every day, working families and small businesses find the courage to make tough choices, make ends meet and make life better for the people who count on them. They deserve public servants who will do the same. That’s why recently I filed for office to serve Montana in the U.S. House. If given the opportunity to serve Montana in Congress, I will work with anyone willing to join me to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and stand firm against any attacks on Medicare. And I will keep the stories of the people I met in the Billings Heights with me as a reminder of the duty we have to reduce the deficit, while making sure the burden isn’t placed squarely on the shoulders of our seniors.

John Lewis, a Helena Democrat, is running in the primary for Montana’s lone seat in the U.S. House.