NJ gov Chris Christie says he'd veto gay marriage bill

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Republican Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday he'd veto a gay marriage bill advancing in the Legislature and instead wants same-sex unions put to a referendum. Angry Democrats said lawmakers have an obligation to protect civil rights and the issue should not be put off for a public vote.

Christie made his first explicit promise to veto a gay marriage bill during a visit to Bridgewater, just hours before the Democrat-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded the measure to the full Senate on an 8-4 party-line vote.

"Let the people of New Jersey decide what is right for the state," Christie said.

Christie told a town hall audience that an issue of such magnitude should be decided by residents and shouldn't be treated as "a political football." He said a proposed constitutional amendment should be drafted and put to a referendum, a position he also held when he campaigned for office in 2009. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/nj-gov-says-hed-veto-gay-marriage-bill-182600917.html