Rep. Steve Israel (D)

The congressman from the 2nd District is Steve Israel, a Democrat first elected in 2000. He grew up in Wantagh and graduated from George Washington University in 1983. While in college, he worked full-time on Capitol Hill, first doing constituent work for Democratic Rep. Robert Matsui of California, and then as a legislative assistant for Rep. Richard Ottinger of New York, also a Democrat. After college, Israel returned to Long Island, where he was Suffolk director for the American Jewish Congress, fundraising director for Touro Law School, and assistant for intergovernmental relations to Suffolk County Executive Patrick Halpin for three years. Then he started his own public-relations and marketing firm and was president of the Institute on the Holocaust and the Law. In 1993, Israel was the only Democrat elected to the Huntington Town Council, where he built a reputation as a bipartisan leader who helped revive the town’s finances. After Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio announced he was running for the Senate, Israel ran for Lazio’s seat and squeaked out a 45%-41% victory in the Democratic primary. In the general election, he faced Republican Joan Johnson, who had a compelling life story as a 66-year-old who grew up under segregation, moved to New York to become a schoolteacher, and later was elected town clerk of Islip. She would have been the first black Republican woman elected to Congress. She also had the Suffolk County GOP’s supposed organizational muscle behind her. But despite help from Lazio, Johnson was a disappointing candidate. She pulled a television ad attacking Israel for voting to raise taxes after Israel protested that he had opposed tax increases. Israel won by a surprisingly easy 48%-35%.

In the House, Israel’s voting record is moderate and a tad more liberal on cultural issues. In an early sign of his dexterity with House politics, he was elected as the freshman representative to the Democratic Steering Committee, which makes the all-important committee assignments. Israel joined the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and was one of 28 House Democrats who voted for President George W. Bush’s tax cuts in 1981. Israel supported the use of force in Iraq but later said that the case for war was based on a “false pretense.” After irritating Democratic leaders by voting for the Republicans’ prescription drug bill in 2002 because of a provision that increased annual Medicare payments on Long Island, Israel redeemed himself with his party when he voted against the GOP’s Medicare prescription drug bill in 2003.

Israel believes that national Democrats can learn something from the successes of centrist Democrats on Long Island. They prevailed locally, he said, by taking positions that protected national security, balanced government budgets, and championed civil and human rights. The party icon, Israel added, should be former Sen. Scoop Jackson of Washington, a defense hawk in the 1960s and 1970s, whose views are hardly in today’s Democratic mainstream. In internal party politics, he favored Maryland’s Steny Hoyer over California’s Nancy Pelosi for minority whip as Pelosi was beginning her climb up the leadership. Pelosi won that contest, and went on to become House speaker. Although both are liberal, Hoyer is more conservative on defense issues than Pelosi.

In 2007, Israel snagged a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, useful for delivering federal dollars back home, and a sign that he had mended fences with Pelosi. On the committee, he promoted international human rights and pushed for additional funds for renewable energy. With Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., in January 2009 he formed the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition to promote climate-change legislation and more funding for green technology projects. He also has a “next generation” energy plan designed to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign energy sources. Israel joined the select intelligence oversight panel on Appropriations, where he voiced concern about the anti-Israel views of Charles Freeman, who was nominated to chair President Barack Obama’s National Intelligence Council. Under pressure, Freeman withdrew.

When Lazio decided not to run again for this seat in March 2002, local Republicans grumbled about his delay in deciding, and quietly threw in the towel. Israel won 58%-40% and since then, he has become increasingly secure in the seat. After Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton resigned to become secretary of State in 2009, Israel was among the names discussed as a possible successor. But he did not line up as well in polling as others considered by Gov. David Paterson, including U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, who got the appointment. Disappointed, Israel talked openly about challenging Gillibrand in the 2010 Democratic primary for the Senate seat. In the House, he won additional assignments, including as head of candidate recruiting for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2009.