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N.C. panel: Pay sterilization victims $50K this year

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Friday, January 27, 2012

(Updated 1:04 pm)

By The Associated Press

RALEIGH (AP) — The North Carolina panel responsible for figuring out how to compensate the victims of the state's decades-long forced sterilization program says survivors should get $50,000 each without delay.

The task force said in its final report issued today that it decided compensation should be limited to those 1,500 to 2,000 still alive in order that state lawmakers will approve the money this year. The payout amounting to as much as $100 million needs legislative approval.

The report says the task force feared that trying to compensate the families of the nearly 7,600 men and women sterilized by state order would mean money for no one.

North Carolina would be the first of the dozens of states that forcibly sterilized the "feeble-minded" and others during the 20th century to compensate victims.

Accompanying Photos

The Associated Press

Photo Caption: Sadie Long, left, of Charlotte talks to sterilization victim Lela Dunston, 63, following the Governor's Eugenics Compensation Task Force meeting on Tuesday in Raleigh.

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johnodrake

January 27, 2012 - 2:05 pm EST

The victims suffered, that is for certain, but the money for compensation will come from people that had nothing to do with the issue, how is that fair? Moreover, much of the compensation will go to taxes - most of the tax will go to the Feds - I don't like that either. Maybe reduce the amount and make it tax free.

rooster8786

January 27, 2012 - 4:59 pm EST

"The North Carolina panel responsible for figuring out how to compensate the victims of the state's decades-long forced sterilization program says survivors should get $50,000 each without delay."
Without delay, this commission should ALSO figure out where the MILLIONS will come from?

johnodrake

January 27, 2012 - 7:55 pm EST

That's the easy part - you and me and people like us that pay taxes.

Dman94

January 27, 2012 - 8:47 pm EST

If the "The North Carolina panel responsible for figuring out how to compensate the victims of the state's decades-long forced sterilization program says survivors should get $50,000 each without delay."" wants this done "without delay;" then maybe they should open up their bank computer chips and begin paying!

As for me, I don't have the funds to do what I wish! Why should the State pay monies that it does not have either!