Rep. Matthew Hill To Washington County Rape Victims: "I Don't Believe You"

Last week, a bill sponsored by Rep. Janis Sontany, a Nashville Democrat, to ban law enforcement officials from requiring sex crimes victims to take polygraph tests before investigations proceed passed the Tennessee House of Representatives 77-10-6.

Inexplicably, 16 Republicans failed to support the bill, which editorial writers noted is needed to protect victims of sex crimes and make it easier for them to come forward and report these crimes. Rep. Glen Casada, an ultra-conservative Republican from Franklin, claimed that without polygraph tests, there would be no way to tell if "the alleged victim was lying to the police."

Casada's claim rings hollow, however, because Rep. Sontany had explained to him during the floor debate that the bill allows law enforcement officials to request polygraph tests. They simply cannot refuse to continue an investigation if the alleged victim refuses to submit to one.

Joining Casada in voting against the bill were Jerome Cochran, David Davis, Steve Godsey, Joey Hensley, Matthew Hill, Judd Matheny, Frank Nicely, Bubba Pleasant, and Eric Swafford. Republicans present, but not voting were William Baird, Dewayne Bunch, Stacey Campfield, Jason Mumpower, Donna Rowland, and Curry Todd. And most bizarrely, four Republicans-Tre Hargett, Susan Lynn, Debra Maggart, and Paul Stanley-were present in the House chamber but failed to record a position on the bill.

And I am thinking that polygraph tests are not admissible as court evidence...