Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has assigned its 'AA+' rating to Minnesota's series 2014 A-E general obligation (GO) bonds and its 'AA' rating to Minnesota's series 2014 certificates of participation (COPs), which are secured by the state's appropriation payments. At the same time, we affirmed our 'AA+' rating on Minnesota's GO state bonds outstanding, our 'AA' rating on the state's appropriation debt outstanding, and our 'A+' rating on an issue backed by the state's moral obligation. The outlook is stable. Credit factors supporting the ratings include our view of the state's: Deep and diverse economy, with the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area (MSA), the center of the upper Midwest economy, anchoring regional economic hubs; Improved financial results, including the restoration
