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Visitors to the Capitol enter the front door as it opened to the public Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in St. Paul, Minn. Among the three protestors outside were Linden Gawboy, of Minneapolis, left, and Deb Konechne, of St. Paul, right, who represented the Welfa Star Tribune, David Joles) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT, Associated Press
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Capitol lobbyist John Tuma climbs the stairs as the Capitol doors were officially opened to the public Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in St. Paul, Minn. Gov. Mark Dayton had ordered the Capitol and the State Office Building across the street to be unlocked ahead Star Tribune, David Joles) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT, Associated Press
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Minnesota Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Nick Thompson removes a "This Building is Closed" sign from one of the State Capitol's main entrances Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in St. Paul, Minn. Gov. Mark Dayton ordered that the Capitol building be opened to the public Tom Olmscheid, Associated Press
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Bi-partisan smiles were visible during a news conference outside Gov. Mark Dayton's office as GOP leaders Sen. Amy Koch, middle, and Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers, left, joined Dayton, right, in announcing a special legislative session and possibilit Star Tribune, David Joles) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT, Associated Press
By Associated Press

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Legislature has convened to vote on a budget deal that would end an almost three-week-long state government shutdown.

Both chambers came to order shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Gov. Mark Dayton called lawmakers back to the Capitol to vote on a series of budget bills that would restart state government.

Passage of the nine budget bills isn't assured — some Republicans aren't happy with the extra spending their leaders agreed to, and Democrats have mostly disavowed the compromise reached last week by GOP legislative leaders and the Democratic governor.

Voting is expected to go through the night as lawmakers hurry to end the shutdown.

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The 19-day stoppage has sullied Minnesota's good-government reputation, while disrupting lives and businesses around the state.

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