The SUNY Empowerment Plan is taking center stage at the Capitol today and things are getting a bit testy.

Despite the obvious tension and Speaker Silver’s prior vocal opposition to the plan, an Assembly source tells our Capitol crew that Assembly Democrats prepared to propose a compromise deal to the senate.

Silver and the majority of his Democratic members remain opposed to the idea of allowing SUNY and CUNY schools to set their own tuition.  They say it would put low-income students at too big a disadvantage.

They are, however, willing to allow state schools to increase tuition rates by two to three percent over a period of three to five years.

The Assembly is also poised to propose a procurement compromise that would allow schools to spend funds without legislative approval. The process would instead be supervised by the attorney general and approved by the comptroller.

Earlier today, a closed door meeting between SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, the governor and members of the state Black, Puerto Rican and Asian legislative caucus members reportedly got heated with one senator storming out.

Here is a clip of Zimpher talking to reporters about the importance of SUNY Empowerment and stating quite clearly that she is open to considering any compromise plan.

The second half of the clip cuts to Westchester Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson discussing the importance of protecting access to state schools for minority students, and reiterating there’s a “standoff” with some members refusing to vote for the revenue bill until there’s an empowerment deal.

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