After being largely spared by Hurricane Dorian, Florida and the state’s largest electric utility are sending more than a half-million bottles of water to storm-ravaged parts of the Bahamas.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Power & Light on Tuesday announced plans to ship 19 truckloads of water --- including 10 truckloads that had been stockpiled by the state for the ongoing hurricane season --- to Nassau, where the Bahamian government is staging most of its relief efforts.

With Congress back in session this week, one of the more prominent members of the Florida delegation weighed in on Tuesday as what he hopes to accomplish as he returns to Washington. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis was right Monday when he said Bahamas hurricane response and recovery are not Florida's responsibility, they're the federal government's. 

But the federal government had better come through with more than food and temporary shelter. These long-neglected neighbors of ours need leadership. And if they don't get it from us, China is more than willing to step in and take it over. 

The fact is, helping Bahamians put their country back together again is very much a national security issue for the United States.

More millionaires are deciding how Florida tax dollars should be used and which laws should be passed.

With all but three lawmakers in the 160-member Legislature filing annual financial-disclosure reports, the average net worth of state senators is $5.9 million, according to an analysis by The News Service of Florida. In the House, the average stands at $1.7 million.

Topping the list is Sen. George Gainer, a Panama City Republican who owns a fleet of auto dealerships across North Florida.