Minnesota Governor Signs Spending Plan, Ending Shutdown

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New York Times:

After a legislative session that dragged on late into the night, Gov. Mark Dayton of Minnesota on Wednesday signed new spending plans for the state, ending the longest and broadest shutdown in state history.

Since July 1, the state’s parks had been barricaded, highway rest stops blocked off, and the Capitol closed. Some 22,000 state workers had been sent home, the state lottery was suspended, and licenses were unavailable (even those for fishing during Minnesota’s treasured warm season).

Restarting the state’s operations now will be no small task, state officials said, calling for patience — more patience — from Minnesotans. Road construction projects, about 100 of which were halted, need to be cleaned up for work to begin again. State offices, including licensing services, are weeks behind on mail, applications and requests, and it may be weeks before things are back to normal.

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The pain and suffering is over at long last....