KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) With the November midterm elections approaching, U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander used an appearance on WKBK Radio’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell Open Mic program Friday morning to discuss congressional oversight, the war in Iran, rising household costs and a series of government reform proposals.

Goodlander, a Democrat representing New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, focused much of the interview on what she described as Congress’s responsibility to serve as a check on executive power and hold the federal government accountable.

“We’ve got to get Congress back in the business of doing its duty under the Constitution, and we need a check,” she said.

A significant portion of the conversation centered on the war in Iran and Goodlander’s call for Congress to exercise greater oversight of military operations. She argued that lawmakers should regularly vote on the continuation of the war, receive accurate information about military casualties and costs, and more closely scrutinize the Department of Defense.

“My view is that every member of Congress should be forced to vote on this war in Iran every day that it continues,” Goodlander said.

She also questioned the proposed $1.5 trillion Defense Department budget, raising concerns about transparency, military readiness, the availability of munitions and the strength of the defense industrial base. Goodlander said Americans deserve a clearer accounting of the financial and human costs of the conflict.

“We are owed the truth,” she said.

Goodlander said a Democratic majority in the House would provide opportunities for additional hearings, witness testimony and investigations into the administration’s actions. She also pointed to bipartisan efforts to increase transparency and accountability surrounding the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, saying she wants Congress to take up additional legislation when lawmakers return in November.

Affordability and Education Funding

The discussion also turned to the financial pressures facing New Hampshire residents, including the cost of gasoline, home heating, housing, groceries and prescription medications.

Goodlander said the cost of living has become a central concern for families and argued that the war in Iran, tariffs and corporate practices are contributing to economic pressures.

“The cost crisis is what’s standing in between people and the American dream,” she said.

She also discussed her involvement in a New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission proceeding involving Liberty Utilities’ request for a $36 million rate increase. Goodlander said she had intervened in the case to seek greater scrutiny of utility costs and their impact on customers.

Education funding was another major topic, prompted by a caller who thanked Goodlander for supporting legislation to increase federal funding for special education.

The caller noted that the federal government originally committed to covering 40% of the additional costs associated with educating students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, commonly known as IDEA, but its contribution has historically remained below 18%.

Goodlander said she is working to build bipartisan support for legislation that would move the federal government toward fulfilling that commitment.

“There’s nothing more fundamental for our government than to keep the basic promises that we make,” she said.

Government Ethics and Congressional Reform

Goodlander also outlined several proposals aimed at changing how elected officials and other government leaders operate.

She supports congressional term limits, including proposals that would limit House members to either six or three two-year terms, as well as term limits for Supreme Court justices and a binding ethics code for the nation’s highest court.

Another priority is restricting the ability of senior government officials and their family members to trade individual stocks, cryptocurrency and participate in prediction markets.

Goodlander discussed her bipartisan legislation with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, which seeks to prohibit such financial activities among senior officials across all three branches of government.

She said she is working to assemble the 218 House signatures needed to force a vote on the measure, even if House leadership does not bring it forward.

Goodlander also called for an end to corporate PAC contributions and changes to campaign finance rules, including overturning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

“It’s not about self-profit. It’s about actually delivering for the people you work for,” she said.

Social Security was another subject raised by callers. Goodlander expressed support for eliminating the cap on earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes, arguing that additional revenue would help strengthen the program’s finances.

She pointed to projections that Social Security benefits could face a reduction of approximately 22% in 2032 if lawmakers do not address the program’s funding shortfall.

She also discussed bipartisan legislation that would require Congress to vote on tariffs, giving lawmakers a more direct role in decisions that can affect prices for consumers and businesses.

Election Integrity and the Role of Congress

As the interview moved toward the November midterm elections, Goodlander encouraged eligible voters to participate and addressed concerns about the administration of elections and the transition of power.

She expressed confidence in New Hampshire’s election officials while emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the newly elected Congress is formally seated and that the process takes place peacefully.

The conversation also returned to the need for bipartisan cooperation, with callers raising questions about campaign financing, executive authority, Social Security and the ability of lawmakers from opposing parties to work together.

Goodlander said restoring accountability and addressing the cost of living are closely connected priorities as Congress approaches the election.

“That’s why affordability and accountability roll together,” she said.

Throughout the interview, Goodlander returned to the idea that Congress has a constitutional responsibility to provide oversight, question executive decisions and ensure that federal policies serve the public.

Her appearance on Good Morning with Dan Mitchell offered listeners an opportunity to hear her positions on national policy debates as well as issues affecting New Hampshire residents ahead of the November election.

Listen to the full interview: