federal legislative update congressional republicans draft energy bill aid west rep joe barton spliced together emergency legislation aimed aiding energy markets western united states via funding improvements california constrained transmission line sp 15 directing federal disaster officials prepare power outages move republicans came democratic criticism bush administration response california power crisis intensified wednesday although bill contain price caps sought democrats handful republicans barton said would allow amendments support price controls committee deliberations list circulated gop staff recent weeks includes range ideas relaxing environmental rules subject governor request increasing federal energy assistance low income consumers firing mothballed power plants directing federal facilities reduce energy use 10 additionally bill would grant governors flexibility allow power plants exceeded emissions limits temporarily keep operating emergencies