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Unhinged Rhode Island Dem’s draconian unvaxxed tax proposal draws serious scrutiny

April 23, 2022 | | Print Article

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(Video: Fox News)

A Rhode Island state Democrat is drawing scrutiny for proposing a particularly draconian vaccine mandate, SB 2552, that calls for unvaccinated R.I. residents to be forced to pay double in state income taxes.

Written by state Sen. Samuel W. Bell, SB 2552 specifically states that every unvaccinated Rhode Island resident 16 years or older must “pay a monthly civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00)” and “twice the amount of personal income taxes as would otherwise be assessed.”

And, according to Laurie Gaddis Barrett, a concerned Rhode Island parent, the bill also applies to parents with unvaccinated children, as she explained on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” (see the clip above)

Bell introduced the bill because he believes there’s an ongoing COVID “crisis” in Rhode Island, according to The Boston Globe.

“The reason I introduced the bill is we have a crisis with the pandemic. Thousands of Rhode Islanders have died. I’ve had really painful calls from constituents who can’t go to the store because they’re immuno-compromised, who have lost loved ones to this pandemic, who are really ill and not fully recovered, suffering long-term effects,” he said.

According to data from Worldometers, while the number of cases in Rhode Island has ticked up slightly in recent weeks, hitting a high of 344 on Friday, they’re nowhere near their high of nearly 7,000 per day that was being registered in January:

(Source: Worldometers)

It appears Bell also introduced the bill because he likely believes everybody else should be forced into compliance for the sake of his immunocompromised son, who reportedly suffers from interstitial lung disease.

“My son’s condition has made me feel more compassionate and ready for the heavy level of abuse I knew I’d receive. I love my son more than I can put into words, and the idea of him not being able to interact with people and to go to school – those things terrify me. And I’m not the only parent of a child with a serious immune condition,” he said.

It’s not clear whether he realizes that the vaccinated can contract and spread COVID just like the unvaccinated.

Bell’s proposal has not been well-received by some of his colleagues.

State Senate Minority Whip Jessica de la Cruz, a Republican, seemingly despises the bill so much that she’s launched an email campaign against it.

“I have not, nor will I ever support, legislation that coerces Rhode Islanders into making medical decisions or face steep financial damages. I hear my constituents and others around the state loud and clear – this is dangerous legislation and sends the message that our government doesn’t trust you to make the right choice for you and your family. This is an unconscionable overreach of legislative powers,” she reportedly wrote in one email this week.

Even some Democrat senators who’d originally thrown their support behind the bill have since reportedly reversed course amid the growing backlash.

“Rhode Island senators put their names on Bill S.2552, which would require every person at least 16 years old in the state to be immunized against COVID-19. NBC 10 News learned that two removed their names from the bill,” Providence station WJAR reported this Tuesday.

The backlash on social media has been especially harsh, particularly toward Bell:

Word of Bell’s bill comes only days after a judge struck down the Biden administration’s public transportation mask mandate.

In response to the mandate being struck down, members of the far-left began fear-mongering that they may soon become the victims of harassment and violence.

Case in point, courtesy Paul Krugman of The New York Times:

Responding to Krugman’s tweet, one far-leftist screeched in horror that it’s “gonna snowball” and soon people will be ostracized and segregated for “wanting to mask.”

Look:

The tweet was ratioed by thousands of people who were eager to point out to the woman that this is the exact treatment that the unvaccinated have faced and continue to face in some states like Rhode Island:

FYI, thus far there’s been no indication that the unmasked intend to harass and bother the masked ….

Vivek Saxena
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