CONCORD – House and Senate Republican leaders say it's time to put the gay marriage issue aside and focus on the state's two-year budget.

At a news conference yesterday, the Republicans called on Gov. John Lynch to veto the same-sex marriage bill being considered and provide leadership on the financial problems facing the state.

Lynch's spokesman, Colin Manning, said a variety of important issues are moving through the Legislature.

"The governor has focused on the budget for many months now and will continue to focus on it and other important issues before the Legislature," he said.

Yesterday, newly elected District 3 Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, said voters want "Concord to focus on pocketbook issues. They care about keeping their jobs, about feeding their families and paying the mortgage. "It is high time -- with barely six weeks to go in the legislative session -- to put aside gay marriage and focus on the critical economic issues," Bradley said.

Former House Speaker and current House Assistant Minority Leader Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett, said the proposed budget is way out of balance and time is short.

"However you feel about same-sex marriage, it is time to move on and deal with the budget of the state of New Hampshire," Chandler said.

He urged Lynch to "say, 'Enough is enough.' We have a budget crisis in this state like I have not seen in years, and the focus has not been on that."

Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, said the budget is more than $500 million out of balance; 40,000 state residents are out of work; state and school aid has been cut by millions of dollars; and the unemployment trust fund is nearly insolvent. It is time to focus on the critical economic issues, he said.

Despite Republican calls to move on, the marriage issue will be back before lawmakers as early as June 3, the same day the Senate is expected to vote on its version of the state's two-year budget.

On Wednesday, the House defeated by two votes changes Lynch wanted in the gay marriage bill to better protect religious groups and individuals. The House then voted to ask the Senate to negotiate a possible compromise.

The Senate will next meet on Wednesday. It would have to vote to agree to set up a conference committee at that time and appoint negotiators. Any agreement reached by House and Senate negotiators would come before lawmakers on June 3 at the earliest.

The gay marriage bill's prime sponsor, Rep. James Splaine, D-Portsmouth, said, "It is time to move on and say 'yes' to this. There is nothing more important than how we treat one another.''

He said he believes the gay marriage issue will be resolved by June 3.

"We've had a great dialogue on the (gay marriage) issue that's helped a lot of people in the state," he said.

At their news conference, Bragdon and his Republican colleagues also called for a non-binding referendum for the 2010 elections on same-sex marriage. New Hampshire forbids binding voter referendums.

"Now is the time to allow the citizens of New Hampshire to vote on a same-sex marriage referendum," said Bragdon.

He acknowledged Republicans have not filed a bill or determined how to put a referendum before voters, "but we are working on it." He said they would not propose a constitutional amendment.

A non-binding referendum would be "the only poll that matters to put the issue before the voters," Bragdon said. He also urged House and Senate leaders to follow the legislative rules.

House Deputy Minority Whip Andrew Renzullo, R-Hudson, said the gay marriage issue has a profound effect on the fabric of New Hampshire's society and yet "you can't find a copy of the bill in one piece." Others complained about the brief public hearing the bill had in the Senate, and several wondered how Republicans could serve on the negotiating committee if nearly all voted against the bill.

"This bill is dead on arrival," said Sen. Jack Barnes, R-Raymond. "There are more important things for people who are out of work or may lose their homes. For them, this is not a big issue."