Standard&Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'AAA' standard long-term rating to Minnesota's 2009A-2009C general obligation (GO) bonds. At the same time, Standard&Poor's 'AAA' rating on the state's GO-backed debt and 'AA+' rating on the appropriation-backed debt were affirmed. Credit factors supporting the rating include: A deep and diverse economy supported by several regional economic hubs and anchored by the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area (MSA), the center of the upper Midwest economy; Continued strong management that remains committed to structural balance and maintenance of reserves; and Low debt levels with rapid amortization and strong internal controls, which keep debt levels manageable. Despite an economy that benefits from diversity across several sectors, the national economic downturn has settled
