WASHINGTON — Long Island Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi has for years operated as a guy in the middle, extolling bipartisan approaches in a world of political extremes.

On Thursday, he was defending that approach, after casting one of only six Democratic House votes in favor of a funding deal that ended the 43-day government shutdown. Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) had previously voted against a Republican bill to fund and keep government open as an Oct. 1 deadline for doing so approached.

Suozzi’s vote, turns out, wasn’t pivotal as the bill passed 222-209. But he says he made his decision because the shutdown "was becoming untenable, children were not being fed," and "people were going without pay," as President Donald Trump was exerting his leverage to force Democrats to fold.

But also, Suozzi said

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