OKLAHOMA – It has been just over a year since the Moore tornado. The fight to get shelters in state schools continues, this time with a new strategy.
Take Shelter Oklahoma planned to use a franchise tax to raise $500 million. This turned into a political firestorm when some democrats backed the idea.
Many republicans wanted to raise money from the private sector. Then, there was a showdown with the Attorney General’s Office over the ballot language.
Grieving parents said they felt caught in the middle.
Now, the group revamped their plan, dropping the franchise tax and now only focusing on getting the issue on the November ballot.
Their attorney says legislators can determine the best way to pay for it through a bond issue.
Attorney David Slane said, “This way the schools will have a say in some of the details.”
“A year has gone by and we have not appropriated one dollar to make our children safer, our children deserve more.”
Danni Legg lost her son Christopher in Plaza Towers.
“I don’t want to go through another tornado season not feeling that we have accomplished anything.”
Take Shelter Oklahoma has a press conference set for Wednesday.
Local and national clergy plan to attend and show support including reverend Jesse Jackson.
