As we were discussing last week, higher education advocates are calling for more funding for what is know as maintenance of effort. MOE covers mandatory cost increases like personnel expenses or basic utilities.

College leaders and some lawmakers want the state to help with these increases, but as we've mentioned, the governor has opposed this legislation in the past.

The union for SUNY employees, United University Professions, is nevertheless still pushing for the bill. Fred Kowal, president of UUP, joins us to discuss.