Financial help in the works for members of the Oklahoma National Guard

Friday, February 18th 2005, 6:17 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Members of the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard who experience financial problems when called to active duty could tap into a voluntary taxpayer fund under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House.

The Oklahoma National Guard Relief Program would pay for approved expenses of qualified members of the National Guard.

It would be funded entirely by donations from Oklahoma taxpayers and administered by the state Military Department.

Oklahomans would donate to the Military Family Relief Fund by checking a box on their state income tax forms that allows them to donate all or part of their state income tax refund.

Wagoner Democrat Wade Rousselot says the fund is needed because guard members sometimes go up to 90 days without a paycheck when they are called to active duty.