Dayton Orders State Capitol To Reopen Today

ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is ordering the state Capitol and State Office Building to reopen to the public in advance of a special session to end the state's government shutdown.

Dayton's order calls for the buildings to reopen at 9 a.m. today.

Dayton's office says the governor ordered the doors opened to "allow public access and transparency as the Legislature prepares to reconvene to pass a budget."

Dayton has yet to call the special session as he and lawmakers continue haggling over the details of budget bills after reaching an overall agreement last week.

Public access to the Capitol has been a casualty of the shutdown, with the building closed to all but employees and credentialed media. That has led to complaints from advocates who say the legislative process shouldn't be done in secret.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)