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Sunday Morning News

Freshman Congressman Stays Close to Constituents

Aired January 14, 2001 - 7:06 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: While Bush's cabinet nominees face Senate hearings, some freshmen Congressmen are learning the ropes on Capitol Hill.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick followed a new lawmaker who is determined not to forget who sent him to Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. STEVE ISRAEL (D), NEW YORK: I'm Congressman Steve Israel.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If this Long Island Congressman has his way, he won't be spending a lot of time in Washington, D.C.

ISRAEL: I found the darkest, dreariest, dankest apartment that I could so that I'm not tempted to stay there one more night than I have to.

FEYERICK: Freshman Steve Israel was one of 41 representatives recently sworn in to serve their first term.

ISRAEL: It was clearly the culmination of a long campaign and a lifelong dream for me tempered by the reality that I needed to get back to my district as soon as possible.

FEYERICK: Which is where he was over the weekend, letting his constituents know he's no beltway boy.

ISRAEL: Anything I can help you with in Congress?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lower my taxes.

ISRAEL: OK, we're going to work on that. There's my phone number.

FEYERICK: Cutting taxes will likely be high on the agenda for the 107th Congress, as will reforming Medicare and Social Security.

(on camera): Like the other freshmen Congressmen, Steve Israel finds himself in an interesting position. Because the House is so closely divided, it's unlikely that his vote will be taken for granted on any of the issues important to the people he represents. (voice-over): Because five votes could make a difference one way or the other, it's likely both Republicans and Democrats will be courting the moderate Democrat.

NORM ORNSTEIN, POLITICAL ANALYST: Israel may be a freshman and a minority freshman, but nothing's going to get done without minority members.

FEYERICK: Something Israel hopes will help him deliver for his district.

ISRAEL: The people I represent, they're more concerned with how they're going to pay for their prescription drugs, how they're going to live to the next paycheck, how they're going to pay their kids' tuition. If you lose sight of those every day issues, then you're going to lose an election.

FEYERICK: And while he may not get all he wants, being seen has its advantages.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think for him to take a Saturday out of his time, he wants to see what people want and that means that he has a conscience and that he's going to listen.

FEYERICK: Listen, legislate and lay the groundwork for his next election two years away.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Long Island.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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