Paying $3 per gallon is apparently enough to help some, but not all, dyed-in-the-wool liberals have a moment of clarity.

That&8217;s right, even a New York liberal can occasionally spot a good thing for America.

Shockingly both New York senators &8212; Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Charles Schumer &8212; were among the Democrats voting to open once-forbidden parts of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling. Not surprisingly the senators from California &8212; Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein &8212; voted &8220;no.&8221;

The Senate version of the bill keeps drilling at least 100 miles offshore &8212; further for Florida&8217;s beaches &8212; and limits the drilling to the central Gulf. The House bill drills a bit closer to home. Its version, passed in June, would end the drilling moratorium in coastal waters everywhere unless a state objects and would put platforms just 50 miles offshore.

Unfortunately, the threat of a filibuster looms in the Senate if provisions in the House bill make it into the compromise bill.

We want the Senate bill to succeed. Why?

First, the added areas of exploration could help reduce America&8217;s dependence on foreign oil by a bit and, in the process, could lower the prices, too.

Second, the added exploration areas would likely mean Southern states including Louisiana and Mississippi would earn billions of dollars in increased royalties.

The House version of the bill is too controversial to play around with. If California liberals want to pay $8 per gallon for gas, we&8217;ll be happy to sell them some good Gulf-borne unleaded; just give us the chance to try and find it first.