‘Dangerous’ Rhode Island Bill Would Impose Monthy Fines, Double Taxes on Unvaxxed, by David Charbonneau

Rhode Islanders over age 16 who don’t get the COVID-19 vaccine would face $50 monthly fines and have to pay twice as much state income tax under legislation introduced in the state Senate, but the bill faces an uphill battle.

Rhode Islanders over age 16 who don’t get the COVID-19 vaccine could face $50 monthly fines and have to pay twice as much state income tax under legislation introduced in the state Senate.

Senator Samuel W. Bell (D-Providence) said he proposed the bill (S 2552) because “ … we have a crisis with the pandemic.”

Bell told the Boston Globe Wednesday:

“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.” …