Gov. Terry Branstad today vetoed House File 642 – a one-year transportation spending plan – and item-vetoed portions of Senate File 512 – an approach to meet the state’s unpaid obligations for indigent defense costs. Branstad wrote in a letter to Senate President Jack Kibbie in regard to SF 512 that he would be asked to reduce the current appropriations in other state agencies to pay the $20 million shortfall, and said the method was “totally unacceptable” and “a continuation of the numerous bad budgeting practices that have created the fiscal mess our state currently faces.” He wrote in a letter to House Speaker Kraig Paulsen regarding HF 642 that he will refuse to pass the budget unless it includes both fiscal years 2012 and 2013.