By Rachel E. Stassen-Berger

Go ahead and joke about there being more heat than light at the state Capitol or crack wise about lawmakers being in the dark but this morning the darkness plunged and the lights went out for real.

A blackout fell over the Capitol and the State Office Building, where House members work, for about half an hour starting at 9 a.m.

With a whirr and a buzz, illumination resumed at about 9:40 a.m.

Update:

Your humble Hot Disher wasn't the only one waiting for the darkness to lift.

A few other reactions to the blackout via Twitter --

From Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie: @mritchie Back to work after the power outage - except phones are still down - everyone kept working in the dark getting ready for upcoming elections

From House information technology staffer Nathan Hunstad: doctorgonzo Ah, power has returned! #mncapitolblackout2009

From the Associated Press' Brian Bakst: Stowydad These phones make good flashlights during power outages

And from director of public affairs for the Republican House caucus Kevin Watterson: kwatt Power outage at the SOB. (a little before 9 am) kwatt Back in business! (45 minutes later)