Republican Congressman Mark Green concedes, if he wins election as Wisconsin's governor Nov. 7, his desire to overhaul the state's system of school financing is not yet backed by a concrete plan.
"We'll find and deliver a proposal for an alternative," Green told 27 News reporter Tony Galli aboard the RV Green has used to campaign for governor.
"Is that something that should be waiting and ready to launch in your first 100 days if you're elected?" Galli asked Green.
"No, because you have to do it correctly with school districts all over the state."
During the last administration of a Republican Wisconsin governor, Scott McCallum, McCallum convened a summit retreat of stakeholders in education from around the state to brainstorm a revision to the state's school financing formula.
No major overhaul resulted. There has also been no major changes in school financing methods under Democratic Governor Jim Doyle.
"He hasn't tried," Green said.
Doyle has said he spared the state's education system potential lay-offs by rebuffing Republican attempts to significantly reduce financial support for state schools.
At a campaign stop at a coffee shop in Beaver Dam, Green said Wisconsin's university system needs to slow tuition increases for in-state students.
A supporter asked him, if elected Governor, could he do anything about controversial UW-Madison instructor Kevin Barrett. Barrett claims the Bush Administration orchestrated the destruction in New York on September 11.
"Mr. Barrett can go to any street corner in the state and spout off his Looney Tunes thoughts," Green told people in the crowd.
"But he should not free to teach two plus two equals seven in the classroom."
UW-Madison officials have required Barrett to limit his discussion of 9/11 in his introductory course on Islam and make sure students can challenge Barrett's interpretation of events.
Green said he would instruct the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents to more thoroughly scrutinize Barrett's credentials.
"If the Board of Regents says Kevin Barrett meets minimum scholarly standards, the Board of Regents is wrong."
Barrett has advanced degrees in two fields of study.
At several campaign stops in the Madison area, Green stressed he would improve Wisconsin's job creation climate and lower taxes.
Green also criticized Doyle's performance with health care, pointing to more people being uninsured compared to when Doyle took office.
Green scoffed at a reporter's question about whether he's too closely linked to major drug companies, as alleged in attack ads against him.
During the 27 News interview, Green addressed his support for a pharmaceutical company's position in 2001 when a generic version of a drug to treat the effects of dialysis was proposed for coverage under Medicare.
Green sided with the company's opposition to Medicare coverage of the generic version of the drug Carnitor, which he called "a miracle drug."
One day after a lobbyist with the pharmaceutical firm made a $1,000 donation to Green, he urged Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to deny Medicare coverage for the generic drug version.
Green told 27 News the campaign contribution played no role in his decision. Green said a physician in his congressional district contacted him with concerns about the generic.
"There was a concern over a particular use of it (generic drug)."
Green said his campaign has not been compromised by his inability to use $468,000 in campaign funds.
The State Elections Board ruled the transfer of the money from Green's congressional campaign warchest to the governor's race was illegal.
The funds came from political action committees not registered in the state of Wisconsin.
The State Supreme Court refused to hear Green's challenge to the ruling before election day.
Green said people have told him it was wrong for his campaign to be denied the money, when at least one previous congressman was allowed to use identical campaign funds in a bid for governor.
"In a strange way, it energized alot of folks."
Green's attorney has said stripping Green of the ability to use the campaign funds could invalidate the results of the election.
Green declined to comment on whether he would challenge election results if defeated.
Green supporters at campaign stops predicted victory.
In Beaver Dam, Olivia Murray of Jackson, Wyoming joined her mother, a Wisconsin resident, in campaigning for Green.
Murray said high taxes have kept her from moving to the state.
Murray still had an opinion on a Green-led Wisconsin. "I think he'd be a great governor."