Hoping to make some political points and address a somewhatforgotten side of California’s energy woes, the minority RepublicanParty leaders in the state legislature Monday asked Gov. Gray Davisto call a second, concurrent special session of the state lawmakersto address natural gas supply and price issues that are related tothe electricity crisis.

For his part, Gov. Davis indicated initially he is not inclinedto call such a session, noting the issues could be handled in theexisting special meeting that runs concurrently with a regularsession.

A separate session on natural gas is the only way “anyone willtake the issues seriously,” said James Fisfis, an aide to theRepublican Assembly leader, Bill Campbell, who wrote the governormaking the request to “deal with skyrocketing natural gas prices.”

Campbell said that “any plan to deal with our electricity crisismust have a natural gas component or Californians are going to payunacceptably high prices for both.” The issue, he said, is”completely intertwined” with the electricity matters.

Legislation the Republican lawmakers are proposing forconsideration on an emergency basis would: boost in-state gasproduction, expand transmission capacity, encourage more storageuse even in the midst of still-high wholesale prices, pushdevelopment of LNG for storage, adjust rates by freezing SanDiego’s retail gas rates, and prohibit noncore customers fromreturning to core supplies from the utilities.

Only three of 10 proposals so far have been made in the currentspecial session, the Republicans argue, requiring a separatespecial session so the issue can gain their rightful attention. Thespecial session would allow bills that are passed to take affectimmediately when they receive a minimum two-thirds majority vote.

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