Byron Yankey's blog

Kids,the handicapped,the elderly;all to be hurt by budget cuts

It doesn't seem like the season to be jolly with another $169 million dollars potentially cut from the state budget. Let's be clear about the results of budget cuts made to date.  The Idaho Statesman  reports how the Department of Health and Welfare has already been impacted.

[..] because most of the money Idaho spends on Health and Welfare programs is matched by federal money, any reductions to the department's state budget will be magnified. For instance, its previous $22 million cut meant the loss of an additional $30 million from Washington, D.C.

That means $52 million will not be going to services designed to support and assist Idaho's most needy.All future cuts need to be thoughtfully crafted because kids, the handicapped, and the elderly are already hurt by budget reductions.  Additional cuts to this budget will have and ever increasing direct impact on people, real people. Let's hope reason will prevail.

Holiday Season

One of greatest enjoyments this time of year for me is to make gingerbread cookies with kids.  Last night, I used 15 pounds of flour to make enough dough for all of the first graders at my school.  I had a blast last night and it was even more fun today.

First graders are so into the moment and the excitement could be felt the instant I stepped into the room.  In about 30 minutes nearly 70 students had cut out their gingerbread men.  After a short visit to the ovens, the gingerbread men were ready to be decorated...and eaten.

Today, I also got to cover recess duty twice. (yes, the temperature was 18 degrees.) We had one first grader dress himself this morning and arrived at school in shorts and snow boots. We found him a pair of pants until his mom arrived.

I walk with fourth graders to an assisted living center where they sang holiday songs for the residents.   "Big Al" , an adorable man in navy blue exercise pants, told the students about being a teacher before WW II and Dora patted every student that past her on the head. It brought joy to everyone.

I also got to show two teachers how to make cardboard castles for their little boys for Christmas and find a little girl who decided to walk home instead of riding the bus.  In between all of this I saw preschoolers perform a Christmas play for their parents.  Nearly everyone there had a digital camera or a video camera and yes, there was one mom with both.

Of course, there was also "Secret Santa" gives to deliver and several stops in the staff room filled with goodies. On the way home I filled my gas tank with $1.39 a gallon gas...

WOW, what a great day!

Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake

This cake is incredible! Don't show people the recipe if they are dieting.  After all, it's not like they are going to eat the whole cake...   The flavor improves over several days.  It can be eating plain or with a simple glaze or with fruit.  Try it sometime.

 
3 cups of sugar
1 8 ounce package of cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup margarine
6 eggs
3 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon coconut flavoring (If you can't find coconut flavoring,add another teaspoon of vanilla.)
1 cup shredded coconut

Cream sugar with softened cream cheese,butter and margarine.  Beat until fluffy.
Beat eggs one at a time into the mixture. 
Add the flavorings and coconut.  Blend in the flour.

This is one of the few recipes I use cake flour.  It makes a big difference in this dessert.

Pour the batter into a well-greased Bundt pan. (You can also us an angel food cake pan.)

Start in a COLD oven and bake at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The top of the cake will be set and golden brown.   Cool 20 minutes and remove from the pan.  Finish cooling until the cake has reached room temperature.  Wrap the cake in foil if you are going to store it.  An old wife's trick is to add several slices of raw apple inside the foil to keep the cake moist.

Indulge!

IPT: Otter didn't need to go to the conference

 

"...there was no need to beg Obama for help"
Wow, how do you equate attending an address given by Obama where a proposed economic stimulus package is previewed with "begging for help?"

The IPT continues,

"The simple fact is that Otter really had no practical reason to go to Philadelphia and beg for help. He believes Idaho should be responsible for keeping its own financial house in order, and he's right."

Let's see, does keeping our financial house in order mean not addressing our crumbling roads and rusting bridges? Does it mean passing up the opportunity for Idaho workers to be reemployed?

I'm wondering also about this statement.

 "Otter has said he won't touch rainy-day funds this year, and that's a prudent move. Economists are saying the current recession will likely last through 2009 and even into 2010, so we'll need that money in the next 12 to 18 months."

Would these be the same economists that failed to see or respond to the early warning signs of a recession over a year ago? It seems to me that many economists have about the same track record as weathermen.

How can our elected officials justify not pursuing every possible opportunity to benefit our citizens?  That means taking advantage of the public works stimulus and using some of the rain-day funds thoughtfully and frugally. 

Cranberry Nut Bread

This is another quick bread. It makes a great gift for friends.

2 c flour

1 c sugar

1 ½ tsp baking powder

½ soda

1 tsp salt

¼ c shortening

¾ c orange juice concentrate

1 tsp orange peel

1 egg

½ c nuts

1 or 1 ½ cups cranberries coarsely chopped

 

Mix all dry ingredients together. Cut shortening into the dry ingredients until crumbly. (use a fork or your fingers)

Beat the orange juice and egg together. Pour into the dry ingredients and mixing just enough to dampen.  Fold in the nuts and cranberries.  Spoon into grease loaf pans.  Spread the corners and sides slightly higher than the center.  Bake at 350 degrees for about one hour.  Check after 50 minutes.

Stimulus spending

Idaho's making a list for stimulus spending , it is about time...

After not attending Obama's address to the National Governor's conference where the stimulus package was first previewed, and after a display of Libertarianism,I guess Governor Otter has had a change of heart. (Or a dose of reality)

" Gov. Butch Otter is among state leaders assembling lists of road, water and communication projects that may benefit from a proposed federal economic stimulus package."

Maybe the irony between promoting an agenda to improve Idaho's infrastructure and turning down Federal dollars to accomplish the same thing became too much.

"The state could save money - or not have to borrow as much - if the stimulus package pays for some of those projects, state officials say."

I though saving money was also on his agenda.

You must be kidding...

For whatever reason the Governor might be reluctant, I would urge him to look around... think this through...and get over it!

Idaho Statesman:

Feds' stimulus money: Will Idaho use it or lose it?
Otter is reluctant to take a 'blank check,' a spokesman says, but lawmakers say the state should get in line fast for funds that could build needed projects and put people to work. 

Obama said he wasn't going to let the dollars languish when they are intended to help boost the economy.

"We will set a simple rule: Use it or lose it," he said Dec. 6. "If a state doesn't act quickly to invest in roads and bridges in their communities, they will lose the money."

Can Idaho and Idahoans truly afford to lose this opportunity to invest in the infrastructure that is by all accounts, even the majority party, in dire need?  The consequences of not be part of this stimulus package are more jobs lost, less investment in business and industry, and higher taxes; much higher taxes or the continued decay of our roads and bridges. At some point let's hope reason over turns ideology.

But where are the others...?

State Agencies Detail Budget Cuts, now there's a headline for you! Too bad only a few agencies were highlighted in the Idaho Statesman article this morning. What about the other agencies, and what about oh, maybe, the Governor's office. Governor Otter has generally been good about providing information regarding his office's operation.  Now would be a great time to add the rest of the story and include details.

I still believe budget cuts need to be "surgical"; not across the board.  It's hard for me to see the balance between cuts in a noxious weed program and cuts in services delivered by the Department of Health and Welfare.

Legislative Committee Assignments

Check out the committee assignments for your local legislators. Included on these charts you will find the meeting times,days and locations.  If you have never attended a legislative committee meeting, you may want to check it out.  Better yet, maybe you would like to provide some public testimony.  In January, I will give you information how to attend and testify.  Both are your rights as an Idaho citizen.

Idaho House of Representative Committee Assignments

Idaho Senate Committee Assignments

The Best Sugar Cookies in the World

I love looking through church cook books.  Not only will you find great recipes, but it is fun to speculate about the family stories and traditions they reflect. This recipe from a Brethren Church cookbook  has created many warm family memories for us. Picture kids gathered around the table at Christmas time, flour and sugar and icing all over the place, decorating sugar cookies. 

These are soft, puffy cookies that actually are better a day or two after they are baked and decorated if you can wait that long.

Cream 1 cup soften butter with 1 cup sugar. Add 2 eggs, 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla and continue mixing. Stir in 3 teaspoons baking powder.  Add 3 cups of flour gradually until you create a soft dough.  Place the dough in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before continuing.

This recipe can be made in a mixer or beaten by hand.  The dough will need to be very cold to roll out.
I roll small batches out between sheet of waxed paper.  I sprinkle sugar on the top and the bottom of the dough as I turn it over until I reach the desired thickness.  You can roll it out on a floured surface, but the more flour that is added to the dough, the more crisp the cookie becomes. 

Cut cookies into shapes and bake at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool several minutes before removing.