Legislature Can Still Do Eugenics Compensation

The N.C. legislature is still attracting attention for all the wrong reasons – last week, it was stealth Senate approval just before July 4th of unnecessary and likely health-endangering restrictions on abortions. But lawmakers have time to get notice and praise for an action that has bipartisan support as the right thing to do.

They can include money in this year’s budget to compensate victims of the state’s disgraceful and long-running eugenics program. The N.C. House and N.C. Senate are still butting heads over the budget. As they work through their differences this week, they should reach agreement that the state own up to this responsibility this year. That shameful episode won’t be laid to rest until they do.

Back in March, we gave kudos to Republican Gov. Pat McCrory for including compensation money in his budget plan. We’ve praised GOP House Speaker Thom Tillis for supporting compensation both this year and in the previous legislative session. The House budget this year includes $10 million for sterilization victims. That pot of money would enable the state to pay living victims...