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House Committee Passes Eugenics Compensation Bill

The House Judiciary Committee has passed a eugenics compensation bill that would pay money to victims and the families.

Rep. Larry Womble: I'm beginning to see some light at the end of this long journey.

Gurnal Scott: Forsyth County Representative Larry Womble slowed by injuries from a car accident last year came back to see the bill he sponsored through. It sets aside 10 million dollars to pay victims of forced sterilization 50 thousand dollars each. Representative George Cleveland of Onslow County was one of two committee members who spoke against the bill.

Rep. George Cleveland: I personally have a problem with compensation. People today paying for something that happened in the past I do not believe is correct.

Eugenics victim Elaine Riddick was upset by that.

Elaine Riddick: I mean that just brought the eugenics right back. The eugenics is alive in full force in North Carolina.

The House Finance Committee will consider the bill next.

Gurnal Scott joined North Carolina Public Radio in March 2012 after several stops in radio and television. After graduating from the College of Charleston in his South Carolina hometown, he began his career in radio there. He started as a sports reporter at News/Talk Radio WTMA and won five Sportscaster of the Year awards. In 1997, Gurnal moved on to television as general assignment reporter and weekend anchor for WCSC-TV in Charleston. He anchored the market's top-rated weekend newscasts until leaving Charleston for Memphis, TN in 2002. Gurnal worked at WPTY-TV for two years before returning to his roots in radio. He joined the staff of Memphis' NewsRadio 600 WREC in 2004 eventually rising to News Director. In 2006, Raleigh news radio station WPTF came calling and he became the station's chief correspondent. Gurnal’s reporting has been honored by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association, the North Carolina Associated Press, and the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.
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