Many good eggs among state government's bad apples

The summer of 2012 hasn’t been a very good one for some present and former state legislators. One has been convicted (Senator Espada Jr.), one has been charged with fraudulent use of public funds (Senator Huntley), and a third has just been stripped of his powerful committee post (Assemblyman Lopez).

The public has the habit of lumping all elected officials into one pot, but that would be a terrible mistake. There are 150 members of the Assembly and 62 members of the Senate. The vast majority of them are hardworking, dedicated to their constituents, and are a credit to the institution. You can meet any one of them at the local supermarket, at a train station or in a doctor’s office, taking care of a sick family member. They attend community functions seven days a week, often missing some special personal moment that can’t be recaptured.

The best way to focus on the good in state government is to pick out a couple of legislators and focus on their careers and accomplishments. With no insult meant to others, I’ve picked Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick) and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach).

Fuschillo was educated at Adelphi University and elected to the Senate in 1998. He comes from a political family, and had no problem acclimating to the Albany scene. He has waged a relentless campaign against drunken driving. He sponsored Leandra’s Law, which makes it a felony to drive drunk with a child in the car. Those who are convicted of the crime are required to use ignition interlocks to stop them from driving drunk.

Fuschillo has supported a broad range of other legislation to protect the public. He was the author of the New York state version of the do-not-call registry law, which has become a model for the federal law. He pushed for the passage of the law banning the sale of ephedra pills, a volatile dietary supplement. He has protected families with autistic children from insurance company abuses.

Weisenberg has been in office for 23 years. I know that for a fact because he took over my seat in 1989, when I left the Legislature after my 23 years of service. I have known Harvey in many roles. He has been a college basketball star, a police officer, a City Council member and an educator.