As last week's scandal involving Eliot Spitzer evolved, plenty of talk emerged from both Republicans and Democrats in Albany about the need to move on and get back to the state's business.

We couldn't agree more.

With a budget deadline looming in a few weeks, lawmakers and new Gov. David Paterson need to regain their focus. In addition, the entire legislative session is roughly at the halfway point, and not much of significance has been accomplished so far in terms of new laws.

But with that reality staring at all of Albany's policymakers, the state Senate is pushing forward with its investigation into the “Troopergate” scandal involving Spitzer's office alleged use of the state police to collect politically damaging information about state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

To refresh your memory about this case, both the state Attorney General's office and the Albany County District Attorney's office investigated and determined that no laws were broken. The state Commission on Public Integrity - which is supposed to be an independent entity - is conducting its own probe, as well.

That's not enough for the Bruno's Senate, which was in court Thursday pushing for subpoenas as part of its probe. The Senate clearly wants to move forward with its investigation, and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to do so.

But in light of Spitzer's resignation last week amid charges he patronized a prostitution ring, it sure seems like there's no legitimate reason for going on, if there ever was a reason in the first place.

For the good of the entire state, Spitzer is gone. The U.S. Attorney's office will deal with him. And that should be enough for Bruno and his colleagues.

If they're truly sincere when they say they want to move on, then they will drop this wasteful investigation and get back to their real jobs.