Panel says New Jersey should allow gay marriage

In New Jersey, some people in same-sex relationships have been denied the health insurance provided to their partners because the provider does not recognize civil unions, the report said.

The New Jersey law also may prevent people in a same-sex couple from making medical decisions for a partner because a hospital may not accept civil unions as equal to marriage, it said.

Assemblyman Michael Doherty, a Republican who opposes same-sex marriage, said the issue should be settled by voters in a ballot.

"The people of New Jersey should decide just like they did in California so that a judge doesn't have to," he said.