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Tuesday, March 26, 2024 1:10 PM

Staats votes against Kayden's Law, named after Bucks County girl killed by her father

Yesterday, our representative, my opponent Craig Staats was the only representative from Bucks County to vote against Kayden’s Law, a bill to protect children in child custody situations. Mind boggling. The bill is named for a seven-year old girl in Bucks County who was killed by her father during an unsupervised visitation. In spite of known risks, the court ordered the unsupervised visits. After brutally killing the child, the father left a note on her body, "You all get what you deserve." Kayden's Law establishes common sense measures to put the well being of the child first in custody decisions. The measure passed the Senate unanimously and by a large majority in the House. Staats voted against.

For more info,
see, Bucks County Courier Times, Kayden's Law in honor of slain Bucks County girl heads to governor's desk

see, PA State Legistature, Senate Bill 55


Wednesday, March 20, 2024 11:18 AM

"Haycock Camp witnesses fail to allay concern over expansion plan"

Like many of you, I attended the last two Springfield Township conditional use hearings to consider the Haycock Camping Ministries expansion plans. To accommodate crowds, the meetings were held in the Springtown Fire Company. The meetings were on Tuesdays, a workday for many of us. The public part of the first meeting I attended lasted 3 hours, ending at 10:00 pm. The second one lasted 3 1/2 hours, ending at 10:30 pm. Of all the important questions and information shared at these meetings, one of my biggest takeaways was the remarkable dedication of the supervisors and residents. Over and over, neighbors spoke up asking questions and sharing concern for the environment, wildlife, road safety, peace and quiet, and preservation for the heritage and character of the community they know and love, often for generations. To me, this  kind of civic involvement is love of country (literally!) at its humble and honest best. The Bucks County Herald provided this sound coverage of the last meeting, "Haycock Camp witnesses fail to allay concern over expansion plan." Thanks for the reporting Barrie-John Murphy. 


Tuesday, March 19, 2024 11:56 AM

Staats votes against students getting fair shot for AP credit they have earned

On Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans* in the PA State House joined together to pass a bill giving all students fair access to credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Succeeding in one of these challenging courses is worth college credit, but only if a student takes and passes an AP test at the end of the course. Students, or their families, must pay out of pocket for these tests. For those without financial means, students often miss out on the opportunity for college credit just because they can't pay for the test. And it's a frustrating double whammy for these students, because AP credits can increase scholarship money they receive from colleges. The house bill that passed this week, with large bipartisan support, covers 80% of the costs of AP tests. For the first time, all students who have earned the opportunity will get the opportunity to take AP tests. Our current representative, Craig Staats*, voted against this bill. He represents students and families in Quakertown, Palisades and Pennridge school districts, but does not support all students getting a fair shot at the AP credit they have worked for and certainly deserve. I worked for many years at Penn State as a faculty member and student adviser. I know first hand the difference AP test results can make in a student's life and future prospects. I would have certainly voted for this bill, HB1875, supporting our students and their families.     *Staats did not.


Thursday, March 14, 2024 11:31 AM

A man is known by the company he keeps

This week my opponent emailed us, “THANK YOU CPAC. Recently, CPAC recognized me with its Award for Conservative Achievement. I am proud to have been recognized in this way…” This, CPAC, is who he’s proud about:  “Nazis mingle openly at CPAC, spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories and finding allies” and “January 6 insurrection glorified at pro-Trump CPAC gathering” and “Far-right speaker tells CPAC attendees that his goal is to 'overthrow' democracy”. Craig Staats himself attempted to overthrow the 2020 election. This is not a personal attack. I won’t do that. It’s about the facts. And the fact is, a vote for Staats is a vote with CPAC and extreme right-wing plans to overthrow government. Staats doesn’t deny it. He is proud of it. Think about that for a sec: overthrowing the government. Imagine that, for real. Is that what we want for our families, communities, businesses? A vote for me, Vera Cole, is a vote for democracy, social order, and economic stability. 


Thursday, March 7, 2024 7:08 PM

Vera Cole for PA Campaign Kickoff Party!

Who knew politics could be so fun?
We'll be taking care of business and getting this race all shook up with special guest, ELVIS!

Click here for Tickets! Thank you, thank you very much.

Light fare, cash bar -- first round on Vera

Monday, Mar 25
5:30 - 7:30

McCoole's Arts and Events Place
4 South Main Street
Quakertown, PA 18951

 


Thursday, March 7, 2024 7:01 PM

Vera Cole: On Her Qualifications

I'm an engineer and teacher. I have lived in the district for 33 years, in Kintnersville and West Rockhill. I have family in the area and my granddaughter is a proud graduate of the Quakertown School District.
 
I have degrees in mechanical and industrial engineering, and a phd in information science. Took me eight years to get my first degree, paying my own way and always working. Got a little easier after that, with a scholarship to work in manufacturing at Motorola, and then a National Science Foundation scholarship to go to Drexel.
 
After a career in industry, I taught at Penn State as lead faculty for Energy and Sustainability Policy. The program was online (before Covid). Most of my students were adults, coming back to school, with a lot of different backgrounds and experience. We had a weekly schedule but not a specific class time so we could be in different time zones. I had students all over the country, and around the world. Many were actively serving overseas. Heroes. I loved this work. I like to think students learned from me, but I know I learned from them. They taught me how many different ways there are to look at everything. They asked questions that made me think twice about things I thought I was sure of. I got better and better at listening, at talking about complicated things in everyday language, and getting along with all kinds of people. 
 
I have deep appreciation for the hard work of running a small businesses. My late husband started a business in West Rockhill Township that he sold to employees. It's still here and continues to thrive. I am so proud of that, for of all of them. I remember the hard times, and how he would worry about the families counting on him. 
 
I served for many years on the West Rockhill Conservation Committee where I contributed to the preservation of family farms and local natural treasures.
 
I was president of the grassroots non-profit Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association, where I taught solar courses, including hands-on installation workshops. 
 
I retired early from these endeavors when my husband was diagnosed with ALS, to be with and care for him. For many years I cared for my late father who struggled bravely with mental illness. 
 
To me, these are all important qualifications for serving us in Harrisburg. I have the education and experience to work with others on complex problems where we need to listen to one another, get along, and figure things out. I am ready and eager to work with the working families and small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. I know how to listen with my heart to people in need and take practical action when it can help.


Monday, March 4, 2024 6:59 PM

Vera Cole: Why I Am Running

I am asked, why are you running? (My grandfather would’ve surely said, “Someone chasing you?”!) 

 
Call me old fashioned, but I respect the constitution, am proud of our country, and believe democracy works. I think government is best when it stays out of personal issues and works instead on big things that matter to all of us.
 
My opponent votes against a woman's right to make her own decisions about her own body, against medical marijuana, against labor, against school funding reform that would save millions, against the environment. He signed a letter to US Congress asking that Pennsylvania's 2020 electoral votes not be accepted. This is not what I want my representative to be doing.
 
I am a running to put someone in Harrisburg that stands for us--for who we are and what matters to us. I will defend our freedoms, support our working families, and protect our democracy. We live in one of the best places on earth. (Really the reason I'm running is how much I love it here.) I am running to serve. I'll listen, work hard, and do my best to serve you honorably.


Sunday, February 25, 2024 7:26 PM

Who Does That?

Maybe you saw the excellent article in this morning’s Intelligencer (2/25/24), “Proposal could save Bucks Schools $16 Million.” It didn’t mention that our representative Craig Staats voted against it. Hello? Against saving county schools $16 million? The savings come from fixing the way school districts are charged for students going to cyber charter schools. Legislation passed the house easily, with bipartisan support. It’s a good common sense bill, check it out, HB1422. I would’ve certainly voted for it. Yet our current representative did not, snubbing financial benefits to Quakertown, Pennridge, Palisades, and Souderton school districts and residents. What the heck? Craig Staats has been in office for ten years. It is time for change. I will not take your votes for granted and I will not cater to special interests. I will vote for what is good for us, all of us. - Vera


Paid for by Vera Cole for PA
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