By David Madden

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) — New Jersey governor Chris Christie has vetoed a bill that would have set up a state-run exchange to allow people to easily shop for health insurance.

Such insurance exchanges are a key part of the “Obamacare” plan now being considered by the US Supreme Court, and that review is what prompted Christie to set aside the proposal.

“If he signs the bill and a few weeks later the court nullifies the bill requiring the exchange, then he’s going to look foolish,” says Fairleigh Dickinson University political science professor Peter Woolley, “so even though a number of these exchanges have already been created, he really does have the luxury of postponing any decision on the exchange.”

Democrats have complained that Christie’s action is another sign that the governor doesn’t care about the 1.3 million state residents without health insurance.

Woolley notes that if the high court allows the Affordable Health Care Act to remain in place, the bill Christie vetoed could be easily resurrected.