BY CARL GOLDEN

COMMENTARY

As a strategy presumably designed to create a political dilemma for Gov. Chris Christie, the Democratic legislative leadership’s decision to establish legalization of same sex marriage as its top priority is both puzzling and flawed.

It suggests, for instance, that it ranks higher than controlling government spending, assuring long term stabilization of property taxes, and dealing with proposals to dramatically change the state’s system of public education.

To be sure, official recognition of same sex marriage is an issue worthy of consideration and the leadership deserves credit for including it as part of its agenda in the new legislative session. Support has grown slowly but steadily over the past few years and the issue is one whose time has arrived.

Signaling, however, that its takes precedence over concerns much closer to the daily lives of New Jerseyans --- jobs, economic stability, taxes and spending --- appears to be a strategic overreach. Moreover, it raises the suspicion that the Democrats have concluded they will cede to the Governor the authority to establish the agenda and frame the debate for those economic issues and that they will merely react to his ideas rather than develop and promote their own.