North Carolina’s plan to compensate people who were sterilized under the state’s eugenics program is probably not going go through because the State Senate scratched it off the budget Wednesday.
Despite backing from Gov. Bev Perdue and the State House of Representatives, a compensation package that would have given victims up to $50,000 each was not included in the Senate’s budget.
"I think there’s a very strong message from the Senate they’re not prepared to take it up this year," said Thom Tillis, a Republican and speaker of the House, who supported paying victims.
Lawmakers will vote on the final $20.2 billion budget later this week and then send it to the governor, but it is unlikely that any last-minute changes will include the eugenics bill.
Check Colorlines.com’s archives for more history on the proposed compensation package.