Focus on the economy, jobs and leave social issues alone

The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis.: When the state Legislature returns to Madison this fall, it has a choice.

It can focus on issues that can help the state’s struggling economy and job market. Or it can focus on so-called “social” issues, which have nothing to do with the economy.

It should be an easy call. Jobs and the economy should be first and foremost in the mind of each legislator. But it won’t be.

Of course, the choice isn’t really for the whole Legislature. It’s really for the Republicans who are in the majority in both the Senate and the Assembly.

Since all of them who were elected last fall ran on jobs and the economy as vital issues, that shouldn’t be a question, right?

And those are issues that could bring support from the Democrats, too.

But there will be some legislators who have their own agenda and will push social issues instead.

After a bitterly divided fight over collective bargaining, followed by a bitterly divided fight over the state budget, the last thing we need are more battles that are not only divisive but detract legislators from what their focus should be.

They need to keep their eye on the ball and act on what’s best for the state, not what’s best for their personal interests or the special interests they’re trying to serve.