(Radio Iowa) – A new committee in the Iowa House will take a deeper look at state accounts that are set aside for specific purposes as well as the “block grants” the federal government sends the State of Iowa. Federal block grants are distributed to states and are designated for a wide variety of programs that are managed by state officials. Republican Representative Martin Graber of Fort Madison will be chairman of the House Committee on Federal and Other Funds.

The next Trump Administration might be sending even more block grants to states and giving state officials broader authority on how the money is spent.

Graber, who was just elected to a third term in the Iowa House, says giving state officials greater latitude to spend federal money would be a positive move.

Most of the taxes and fees the STATE collects is depositing in what’s called the General Fund, but Graber says the legislature has created all sorts of special state accounts designed to support specific projects.

Graber, a retired Iowa National Guard brigadier general, has a Masters in Business Administration from St. Ambrose University and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the Army War College. He is currently a financial advisor.