DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is approaching the 2013 legislative session open to compromise and chastened by Iowans’ reaffirmed preference for divided government.

Branstad said in an interview with The Associated Press that as an improved economy brings in more tax revenue, he would be willing to accept higher spending requests from Democrats if that’s what it takes to gain approval of his proposals, especially those dealing with education and property taxes.

The governor’s conciliatory tone comes as he has signaled plans to seek re-election in 2014 and marks a change to his approach in the past two years. During that time, he tried to muscle through wholesale changes in property tax and education policy but failed despite a large Republican majority in the House and the smallest possible Democratic margins in the Senate.