Some observers see the Governor as very supportive of private higher education and believe that the impact of the 1995-96 budget cuts was more damaging to the public sector than to the private sector. A former member of the transition team said that getting more state support for the private sector was a major concern of the group, noting also that little thought was given to major questions of projected growth, location of campuses, and strategies for economic development. A legislator suggested that CUNY has fared better because its chancellor is more astute than SUNY's in political matters. The Legislature New York has a full-time Legislature, one that has had a dramatic growth in staff since the early 1970s. Republicans have held a majority in the Senate for the past five years.
Senators serve four-year terms.
Gubernatorial nominees to the SUNY and CUNY governing boards are considered by both the Senate Higher Education and Finance Committees before approval by the full Senate. The Republicans gained six seats in the 1994 election. Members of the Assembly serve two-year terms. Observers' perceptions of the chairs of the Higher Education Committees reflect the differing regional constituencies and party affiliations. Under a Republican Governor, the Senate with its Republican majority appears to have more influence than the Assembly in higher education matters.