senate switch affects energy bill outlook lpm houston time today senator james jeffords r vt announce switching republican party become independent voting democrats happens control senate switch democrats give dems majority control senate committee chairs would become democratic dems would control legislative agenda energy bills california bailout possible investigation influenced cheney plan etc profound ideological shift sen murkowski r ak would replaced sen bingaman nm chair senate energy committee bingaman takes senate energy committee expect pipeline safety issues come fore bingaman strong proponent tough pipeline safety regulation particularly wake carlsbad explosion last year likely insist strict safety requirements cheney energy bill recommendations loosening regulations oil gas drilling coal power well incentives new generation contained cheney bill likely heavily revised favor conservation oriented measures tax bill likely downsized particularly jeffords makes switch immediately timing important senate house conference bill must appointed immediately presidential appointments would controlled dems significant large number sub cabinet level appointments need approved time republicans trying convince sen zell miller ga already votes republican switch republican party happens cancel expected jeffords move initial reports miller switch one caveat jeffords pondered switch past flaked jeffords goes miller stays put balance power washington tipped favor democrats