DES MOINES--Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad tells a wicked joke about Illinois and its culture of corruption.

Cracked Branstad without naming names but you know who he is talking about:

"Two prisoners were standing in a chow line in prison. One says to the other, 'You know, the food was a lot better when you were the governor."

Branstad offered his quip in a conversation with three reporters during a New Year's Eve party for the large media contingent here for the Tuesday Iowa caucus vote. The event was sponsored by a variety of Des Moines and Iowa area companies.

Branstad is in his second stint as Iowa governor, in the state Capitol between 1983 and 1999 and elected again in 2010. He never was in office when two former Illinois governors-- George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich served. Ryan is in a federal prison and Blagojevich starts his 14-year sentence on federal charges in March.