NEW YORK - Opening more of America's coastlines to oil and natural gas drilling won't cut energy prices anytime soon. And it won't greatly reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

State lawmakers say it's time for Alaska to receive a share of federal revenue collected from offshore oil and gas development.

Last week, Sen. Ted Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury, about a year after his Girdwood home was raided by the FBI. It was truly a sad day for Alaska and for American politics.