Tom Harkin: “Mr. President, I am sorry I could not have been here earlier to speak against this onerous piece of legislation. The…”

“Mr. President, I am sorry I could not have been here earlier to speak against this onerous piece of legislation. The so-called ``truth'' in employment act? It ought to be called the ``fear'' in employment act. Of all the requirements that a person has to go through to get employment, the last thing you ought to worry about is your personal beliefs or what you think. How is an employer going to find this out? Are we now going to start administering ``truth tests'' to people who seek employment? Are we going to give them an injection of sodium pentothal so they have to tell the truth? Are we going to put them under hypnosis to open their minds? This is probably one of the most far-reaching, invasive pieces of legislation that goes at the very heart of the Bill of Rights. The freedom of thought--to make sure that people can't force you, either in a court or anywhere else, to testify against your will, testify against yourself, or to force you to tell what you think is fundamental to our liberty. Yet, this bill amends this principle. This legislation would implement a unprecedented chilling effect on employment practices in this country.”