Gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mark Green, R-Wis., announced his University of Wisconsin System reform agenda Friday, pledging to "put Wisconsin students first."

While revealing his "Wisconsin First" plan in Appleton, Green highlighted what he has repeatedly called Gov. Jim Doyle's "mismanagement" of the UW System during his tenure as governor.

"Jim Doyle and his Board of Regents have mismanaged one of our state's greatest resources — the UW System," Green said, according to a transcript of the press conference. "I'll put Wisconsin's students and families first by ensuring access and affordability to the UW System."

Green's plan, as detailed by his campaign, includes giving preference to Wisconsin students over out-of-state applicants — provided they meet the same standards — making a UW education more affordable, restoring taxpayer trust in UW, and renewing the Wisconsin Idea.

Doyle's campaign, however, responded that Green's plan would cost the state too much money.

"Congressman Green's University of Wisconsin budget plan wouldn't provide any additional funding to the UW, which would result in a cut of at least $100 million," Anne Lupardus, Doyle's campaign deputy press secretary, wrote in an e-mail to The Badger Herald.

On Friday, Green criticized the Board of Regents' revised admissions policy, which puts a greater emphasis on non-academic qualities like family income and race. The board announced in June its decision to adopt a more holistic approach in its admissions process, citing efforts to create a more diverse community of students.

Believing out-of-state students have an easier time getting into UW schools, Green added he would try to lessen the burden for Wisconsin residents.

"It is just plain wrong that out-of-state students are getting into UW ahead of Wisconsin kids who have better grades," Green said. "If you are a good student, if you study hard and get good grades, then I will make sure that you are at the front of the line to get in."

While the rhetoric is strong, Dole's campaign believes Green's record in Congress points in an opposite direction.

"Congressman Green says he'll put Wisconsin's students and families first, but has spent his career in Congress making it more difficult for Wisconsin's middle-class and working families to afford a college education," Lupardus wrote.

Last week, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education gave Wisconsin and 42 other states a failing grade for affordability in its 2006 Measuring Up report.

"Under Jim Doyle, Wisconsin families have been hit with an increase in tuition of more than 50 percent, while at the same time, tuition was lowered for out-of-state students," Green said at the press conference. "That's just crazy, and it won't happen under my watch."

Lupardus noted that Doyle is working to help make a Wisconsin education more affordable for students across the state.

"To limit tuition, the governor has called on the Board of Regents to approve a budget request that limits tuition to a level no greater than the rate of inflation," Lupardus wrote. "The Regents answered the governor's call — and are forwarding a budget that includes the lowest proposed tuition rates in decades."

Doyle and Green will officially go head-to-head on Election Day in November.