Story highlights Maine's state government shutdown ends after budget signed

State went into civil emergency state after Legislature failed to sign budget last week

(CNN) The three-day government shutdown in Maine ended early Tuesday morning after Gov. Paul LePage signed a new budget, according to a statement from his office.

The shutdown had closed all non-emergency government functions, prompting protests from state employees in Augusta.

LePage had declared a state of civil emergency in the absence of an approved biennial budget by the state Legislature. That civil emergency state began July 1 after the Legislature failed to sign a budget into law by June 30, the last day of Maine's fiscal year.

LePage, a Republican, submitted his budget to the Legislature in January. Expecting a budget standoff, he signed an executive order Friday directing state departments and agencies to take necessary steps for a state government shutdown.

But on Tuesday morning, LePage announced on Twitter: "The Maine state government shutdown is now over. Happy Fourth of July!"

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