The People's House reopened Tuesday morning at 9, but not many people showed up.

Doors to the Capitol and State Office Building, locked since the state government shutdown began on July 1 reopened at the order of Gov. Mark Dayton.

Dayton and legislators have been criticized for doing their work grinding through budget bills behind closed doors ever since, prompting the reopening.

There wasn't exactly a land rush, as a handful of government staffers trickled in through the heavy brass doors of the Capitol.

Minneapolis resident Angel Buechner beat the rush after an employee let her in about 8:45 a.m. She was one of four members of the Welfare Rights Committee who showed up to protest the budget agreement reached last week by Dayton and Republican leaders in the Legislature.

"He said he was from the historical society and was nice enough to let me in," she said. "It's better to have the shutdown than this deal. "I hope I can find some legislators to talk to."

One of the early-arriving legislators, who didn't encounter Buechner, was Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka. "Hey, we're front door people again," he said, adding that he's "pleased with the work we've done. There's just technical work to be done on the bills"

As for a special session, Dayton "hasn't told me when, but today would be fine."

Michael Brodkorb, the GOP's deputy state chairman, said "lots of work is left to do," adding that despite lingering doubts that the Republican majorities in both chambers will approve the budget bills, "the votes will be there."