I went to Washington for one reason: to serve my community. Whenever I faced a tough decision or tricky vote, I asked "what's best for the folks back home?" My choices weren't always easy, but my values were always clear.

That's why it's so disappointing (and infuriating) to watch some Congressional Republicans playing fast and loose with the facts about Social Security and Medicare.

Again and again – Sen. Rick Scott's brutal "12 Point Plan," and Ron Johnson's ignorant "ponzi scheme" comments, for example – we watch as Republican leaders propose drastic cuts to those critical programs, knowing that they'll be hurting our communities.

We can't let that happen. Please contribute $15 today to stop those plans from taking root.

But when someone calls them out on it, like President Biden did in the State of the Union address, those same leaders insist they'd never consider such a thing – and act outraged that anyone would suggest that they would.

Don't fall for it. Let's keep three key facts in mind:

First: folks in rural America count on programs like Social Security and Medicare to be there when we fall on hard times, when we're faced with unthinkable tragedy, or when we're ready to enjoy our retirement. Cutting those programs (or "reworking" them or "sunsetting" them or any of the other polite-sounding ways folks have found to say "shredding the social safety net") would devastate rural communities – especially our seniors.

Just as important: actions speak louder than words. Despite what they say on Sunday morning talk shows – or holler about during nationally televised speeches – an awful lot of folks in Congress have published plans or written bills to dismantle Social Security and Medicare. We've seen it too many times to be fooled. Just a few days ago, Mike Pence proudly said that Social Security and Medicare cuts must be "on the table."

Finally, we know that when Democrats get our message out to rural voters, we win.

As we head into the next election, One Country Project will be working to make sure rural voters are included in the critical fight to defend Social Security and Medicare.

That work has to start now.

This summer will be a long hard slog as the battle over the debt ceiling plays out. The D.C. Republican machine is already grinding out disinformation and paying the groundwork to gut social security and Medicare to pay the tab for decades of tax cuts for the wealthy. Can you chip in $15 today to get the word out to protect these essential programs?

As always, I'm grateful to be in this fight with you.

Heidi