Steve Israel

New York Democrat

Rep. Steve Israel

What the Post found

Estimated wealth

-$55,001 in 2010

47% since 2004

Financial approach

Minimal Assets

Invests in: Mixed

Israel’s financial disclosure forms

Each year, lawmakers are required to file financial disclosure forms that list assets, liabilities, stock transactions, outside employment, spousal employment and travel reimbursements.

Financial groupings

Members of Congress are not one-dimensional investors and come to wealth in a variety of ways. Lawmakers are grouped into investment categories based on where they have reported significant assets.

Public projects, private interests

Earmark near personal property: $490,000

In 2008, Israel earmarked $490,000 to study a bypass road to ease congestion along a busy commercial corridor that borders the congressman's neighborhood in Dix Hills. The project has stalled and the money has yet to be spent. "This transportation hub has occupied the discourse at the town, county, state and federal level for years," an Israel spokeswoman said. "The congressman's personal residence has nothing to do with his decision to engage on an issue that affects tens of thousands of his constituents on a daily basis."

Israel’s financial portrait

The Post examined the personal finances disclosed by all members of Congress and computerized by Center for Responsive Politics to show how they manage their assets and invest their money.

Israel

House median

Estimated wealth

-$55,001 in 2010

Change in estimated wealth

47% since 2004

Less wealth and more aggressive

Lawmakers holding fewer assets with riskier investment strategies and/or higher debts.

Spouse's estimated wealth in 2010

50% of Israel's wealth

See the grid for all lawmakers

Wealthier

More aggressive

Financial approach

Minimal Assets

41 lawmakers saw their estimated wealth fall below $25,000, with many slipping into the negative territory.

What industries does Israel invest in?

Many assets can be tied to specific industries, such as finance, agriculture or
natural resources. "Mixed" investments are assets not tied to a specific industry.

Israel's estimated
2010 liabilities

$120,001

What asset types does Israel hold?

Assets are lumped into groups such as real estate, stocks,
mutual funds or cash.

NOTE: "Mixed" investments are assets that are not tied to a specific industry. Charted change in annual estimated wealth is capped at 200 percent increase and 100 percent decrease for clarity. See the full methodology here.
SOURCES: Congressional financial disclosure forms, Center for Responsive Politics, Washington Post analysis.

About the data

The estimation of assets for lawmakers is based on calculating the midpoint of reported value ranges for holdings and liabilities that members of Congress list on financial disclosure forms. It does not reflect assets lawmakers are not required to disclose, such as personal residences and non-interest bearing bank accounts. The estimation is not intended to provide a complete portrait of the net worth of each legislator, but rather show their relative standing in Congress and how their holdings have changed over time.

If you're a member of Congress who would like to further clarify your financial portrait, please contact us at capitolassets@washpost.com.

See other New York lawmakers