Good morning. The latest big moment arrives for President Joe Biden with a press conference this afternoon. We'll air it on MPR News.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that President Joe Biden should reconsider his decision to stay in the race. Pelosi appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday and said that the president should continue to weigh his options . “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” she said. “We’re all encouraging him to make that decision. Because time is running short.” When pressed further on whether Biden should still seek re-election, Pelosi said “it’s up to the president” to decide to stay in the race. Pelosi is the most senior member of the party to suggest Biden should consider dropping out. She said that conversations about Biden’s future should be delayed until after the NATO summit, which concludes today.
Gov. Tim Walz said yesterday he stands by President Biden as long as he is in the race against former President Donald Trump. Clay Masters reports Walz's latest public comments closely track with what he said after meeting last week with Biden and other Democratic governors last week. Walz says recent polls concern him and the Biden campaign needs to change strategy. "You get out, you make yourself available, you do press conferences, you stand in front of people and take questions that weren't given to you ahead of time, and do the best you can to answer those,” he said. “And those are the things that I expect them to do." Walz is chair of the Democratic Governors Association which makes him a key player in what comes next if Biden were to step down after being nominated. Party rules say Walz along with DNC chair Jaime Harrison, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies would present a new candidate to DNC leaders.
Curious where Minnesota Democratic leaders stand on Biden’s candidacy? Minnesota Democrats are, like the rest of the party, split over the best course. Ellie and Clay have the roundup.
There has been so much focus lately on Biden’s viability raising concerns among Democrats. According to this extensively reported story, there’s also worry in the Trump camp that the foe they built a campaign around could be defeated too soon. Tim Alberta of the Atlantic, one of the best writers out there, takes readers inside the upper ranks of the Trump campaign. It covers the way the campaign helped rehabilitate Trump’s post-presidency image, stomped a lineup of Republican opponents and put the former president on the cusp of completing his comeback. Good information throughout on the way the Trump camp is approaching voter turnout and messaging — with or without Biden on the ballot. And if he wins in a rout and has coattails, what might be in store for the country. There is a quote in there from Democratic strategist David Axelrod that sums up his party’s present concerns: “If we get to the point of fighting to hold on to Virginia and New Hampshire and Minnesota, meaning the main six or seven battlegrounds are gone, then yeah, we’re talking about a landslide, both in the Electoral College and in the popular vote.”
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is investigating 15 autism providers in the state. The Minnesota Reformer’s Deena Winter reports the state has also already completed other investigations, withheld payments due fraud allegations and have forwarded cases to law enforcement. The Reformer reported last month that the FBI was investigating possible from in autism programs around Minnesota, which have exploded in growth since launching in mid-2015.
Gov. Tim Walz and his family have been living at Eastcliff while the Governor’s Residence undergoes renovations. They’ll be there into this fall at least. But there are discussions underway about when and how the University of Minnesota will rehab Eastcliff along the Mississippi River. It’s been the home to school presidents over the years. The Star Tribune reports there is a campaign to raise $10.5 million in donations to upgrade the St. Paul property. For reference, the Minnesota Department of Administration says the Governor’s Residence project is due to cost $12.8 million at the time of completion later this year. That estimate, first provided in October 2023, remains on track and the project is due to conclude by year’s end, according to an agency spokesperson. The first family’s return to the Summit Avenue estate hasn’t been scheduled.
Rep. Pat Garofolo announced his legislative resignation on Tuesday; his new job was announced on Wednesday. Garofalo has bagged a big title as the new president to the Minnesota Grocers Association. That means that while he’ll give up his ability to vote in the Legislature, he won’t be going far and will no doubt be heavily involved in the group’s Capitol advocacy. He starts on July 15.
Minnesota’s financial outlook is stable while revenues continue to outpace projections. That’s the upshot of a quarterly fiscal update from the Department of Minnesota Management and Budget. The report covering the last quarter of the fiscal year showed that tax receipts were about $421 million more than anticipated since February’s comprehensive economic forecast. That’s 1.4 percent. All but the sales tax performed ahead of estimates. Meanwhile, state economic consultants say that growth estimates are right on track for the fiscal years ahead. All in all, it paints a steady-as-she-goes picture leading into the 2025 session where a new state budget will get set. There will be a new economic forecast prior to that, which will show whether a surplus or deficit awaits the next Legislature. | 