JEFFERSON CITY | House Speaker Ron Richard today announced the formation of a new committee to look at how the state will use federal stimulus funds.

The committee will be chaired by Rep. Allen Icet, a St. Louis County Republican who, in an incredible coincidence, announced this morning that he will run for state auditor in 2010.

Cosmic, isn't it, that a lawmaker almost certainly looking to raise his profile as a fiscal watchdog in advance of a run for statewide office would stumble onto the chairmanship of a committee watchdogging how the state spends federal money?

And on the very same day!

A spokeswoman for House Republicans said there was "absolutely no correlation" in the timing of the two announcements.

Icet also serves as the House Budget Committee chairman.

"Representative Icet did an outstanding job crafting our state operating budget this year and I know he will continue that same fiscally responsible approach as he determines the best way to utilize the remaining stimulus funds," Richard, a Joplin Republican, said in a statement.

The new committee will be charged with conducting "a comprehensive study and analysis of the most effective strategies for utilizing the remaining funds received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" and will "examine any conditions or stipulations that are attached to the receipt of federal funds," according to a news release.

The panel will be called the Joint Interim Committee to Oversee Use of Federal Stimulus Funds.

How its work will dovetail with that of the Joint Committee on Capital Improvements and  Lease Oversight is unclear. The latter is responsible this summer for prioritizing projects that could be funded with stimulus funds ahead of next year's budget debates.

Icet was initially the chairman of that committee, but stepped down at its first meeting last month. 

The new committee also will do its work in the interim before the legislature reconvenes in January. House members include Republican Reps. Sally Faith and Steve Hobbs and Democrats Chris Kelly and Roman LeBlanc. Five senators also will be named to the committee.