Since World War II, programs to promote the use of nuclear power and fossil fuels have consumed the vast majority of federal energy spending. In contrast, programs to study and develop renewable sources of energy -- such as wind and solar power -- have received relatively little money. This imbalance has hindered efforts to widely commercialize renewable energy technologies which produce far less pollution and dangerous waste than nuclear and fossil fuel energy sources.

In June, Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Jim Jeffords (R-VT) attempted to restore balance to federal energy programs. On the Senate floor, the two lawmakers offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 1995 Energy and Water Appropriations bill (H.R. 4506) that would have added $33 million to renewable programs; the addition would have been balanced by a a $33 million decrease in spending for nuclear weapons (a cut of about 1 percent in the nuclear weapons budget).

On June 30, 19994, Sen. J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA) offered a motion to table (kill) the Harkin-Jeffords amendment. The Senate accepted the Johnston motion by a vote of 53 - 45. NO is the pro-environment vote.