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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:

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.
After testing positive AGAIN, Elon Musk declares: ‘Covid-19 is the virus of Theseus’ https://t.co/IGSeWvgzAT
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) March 28, 2022
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:
You’re a fascist Nazi pic.twitter.com/uUEmxndUpm
— L (@uniteus7) April 23, 2022
@SamuelWBell medical segregation? Because people won’t follow your fascist ideas. What is wrong with you?
— Tom Masters 🇺🇸🐗💎 (@SerTomMasters) April 23, 2022
You’re a fascist. What gives you the right to control the lives of people. We have freedoms in this country, I guess you believe we are in China. @SamuelWBell is evil
— Stev (@stev24680) April 23, 2022
This bill discriminates against people with disabilities and illnesses who cannot receive the vaccine. They are required to get three different Drs and get them to sign off on exemption. Absolute discrimination.
This bill is wrong on every level.— Lynda Avanzato (@LyndaAvanzato) April 22, 2022
Rhode Island State Sen. @SamuelWBell showcasing his fascist autocratic beliefs w/freedom denying punitive legislation.
Fact: Covid vax is unnecessary, unproven, dangerous & lethal
Fascist Bell would never have the cojones or intelligence to publicly debate it. https://t.co/NCcCOI85YZ— DeMario (@DJDeMario1) April 23, 2022
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:
A prediction about masking: Soon we’ll be seeing many incidents in which those who choose to protect themselves with KN95s etc face harassment, even violence. Because this was never about freedom.
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) April 19, 2022
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:
It’s already happening, sir. It’s gonna snowball.
Prediction: people wanting to mask will be refused admittance to public areas/conveyance and told “hey, stay home, no one wants to see your ugly mask.”
Imagine if it comes to “you can’t vote if you wear a mask.”
— Cathy Rudolph (@waywardflf) April 19, 2022
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:
Sounds like the life of an unvaccinated person for the last year. Where was your outrage then?
— Terry Smith (@VoteoutTrudeau) April 20, 2022
FYI, thus far there’s been no indication that the unmasked intend to harass and bother the masked ….
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