Branstad says he's hopeful state budget impasse may be resolved

(Left to right): Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Governor Terry Branstad and Gundersen Lutheran--Decorah Clinic Manager Trudy Belay

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says leaders of the state legislature will gather this Thursday in Des Moines--a meeting he's hopeful will result in a state budget agreement.

Branstad told decorahnews.com "we're willing to negotiate" on the terms of a state budget.  But he's insistent that the legislature not use one-time-only funding sources, which he calls "political games" that are played to give a false reading of the state budget.

He says that's why he has been pushing for a two-year state budget, along with a five-year budget projection.  He says the legislature has been using accounting tricks to balance the budget for the past decade--and he wants a budget that truly sticks to a $6 billion spending limit.

Branstad made a stop in Decorah Tuesday before heading to Waukon, Elkader, Oelwein and Independence.