Forget what you may have heard about a built in plan to tax the heck out of us for embryonic stem cell research even if we vote down the upcoming $450 million bond issue.

That rumor is making the rounds and because of it, some folks think their vote won't count for anything this November. Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, corrected that impression during a telephone interview last week.

Tasy said a built in provision for an additional tax levy will only kick in if New Jersey voters approve the referendum.

"What they are asking for is that voters approve (spending) $45 million a year for the next ten years," Tasy said.

And, she added, tucked into the act is language most voters are not aware of that calls for a tax levy if revenues anticipated from stem cell research don't materialize in a timely fashion.

"That language is in the actual act," said Tasy. "If at any time the revenues do not come due, there is language that authorizes a tax levy."

This in a state where spending is already out of control and taxes are burdensome enough to chase many long-time residents away. This with a form of research that has been around for two decades and has yet to yield results."

Tasy, who supports research with adult (non-embryonic) stem cells 100 percent, talks strongly and firmly about the need to defeat this bond referendum.

"To make all kinds of nonsensical predictions about research with no track record is irresponsible," said Tasy of the efforts of outspoken advocates of embryonic stem cell research including Gov. Corzine and Senator Codey.

"That anyone can make the claim that this will yield profit to the state given its track record is irresponsible," she said.

Since the lion's share of the money is earmarked for embryonic research and only a small amount is aimed at adult stem cell research, "it's even more likely that the state will see no profit" from this effort, she said.

The reason for this resolute campaign to fund embryonic stem cell research with public money has never been explained to my satisfaction.

Tasy calls it "blind obsession" on the part of the Corzine administration and its partner, Richard Codey. "They have a blind obsession when it comes to embryonic stem cell research and it's not substantiated by evidence or facts.

"The way they are blindly pursuing this is irresponsible," she said. "We are the third most indebted state in the nation and we are chasing after this form of research and repeatedly limiting funds to adult stem cell research which has proven successful in various stages of illnesses."

Tasy said the voters have a "right to be fully informed" about this referendum.

"They need to know that it will involve immoral, unproductive research that takes human life. That it will support research that takes human life that was created simply for destruction. That it will likely increase taxes and will translate in all likelihood to a property tax increase.

"It's a David and Goliath battle at this point," she said. "The other side has all the money and they are using it to convince people that this bonding referendum will help cure people in the next few years. People need to be informed. People should not be fooled."