MaryLouise Isaacson
DemocraticQ1 PFAS chemicals are widely used in consumer products but have raised health concerns due to their persistence in the environment and humans, and some Pennsylvanian legislators are considering restrictions on its use, such as in House Bill 2145. Should Pennsylvania restrict PFAS in consumer products? What scientific evidence would you use to inform your decision?
Yes, I am actually a cosponsor of this legislation and have also introduced other legislation regarding the restriction of PFAs. When researching legislation, I focus on human-health effects, dose-response and exposure levels, environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, exposure pathways, safer alternatives, and Pennsylvania-specific contamination data.
Q2 Measles vaccination rates in Pennsylvania have declined in recent years, from 95.5% in 2020 to 92.5% in 2025. At the same time, measles outbreaks have emerged across the state, with 62 confirmed cases in PA in 2026. As a policymaker, how do you approach engaging with communities that have concerns that center on infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety, and what policies, if any, would you support related to these issues?
I think the first responsibility of a policymaker is to listen to people’s concerns respectfully and make sure they have access to clear, evidence-based information from trusted medical and public-health professionals. At the same time, we have to be honest about the evidence: measles is highly contagious, two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective, and Pennsylvania has now reported 731 confirmed cases across 38 counties in 2026, including four deaths. I would support policies that make vaccination easier and more accessible, including expanded community vaccination clinics, outreach through trusted community organizations, transparent communication about both vaccine benefits and potential side effects, and strong disease surveillance and outbreak response. Public policy should be grounded in the best available scientific evidence while recognizing that maintaining public trust is essential to effective public health.
Q3 There have been avian influenza outbreaks in Pennsylvania, with potential impacts on poultry and dairy operations, both industries that provide billions of dollars of economic value to the state. What policies, if any, do you support to strengthen the state’s preparedness and outbreak response? Are there specific strategies you would prioritize to protect farm workers, agricultural communities, and the broader public?
I would support a science-based approach focused on rapid detection, strong farm biosecurity, worker protections, and clear communication. That includes testing and surveillance, PPE and training for farm workers, resources to help producers manage outbreaks and losses, and transparent public-health guidance. The goal should be to contain outbreaks quickly while protecting Pennsylvania’s farmers, agricultural economy, and broader public.
Q4 Pennsylvania is the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas and nuclear energy, as well as the third-largest producer of coal, per the Energy Information Administration. In contrast, PA currently ranks 45th in the country in terms of wind, solar, and hydropower energy production. How do you think these energy sources should be distributed across PA’s energy production portfolio, and what policies, if any, would you support to facilitate this?
While recognizing PA’s various energy sources and the realities we face with meeting the needs to keep the PJM grid meeting the needs of consumers, we also need to address the affordability issues that face the ratepayers. To do this, we need to expand to all forms of energy including more renewable energy sources. The major impediment to this is the cap on our Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS). This cap has been in place for decades and it needs to be expanded. I am also part of a working group of multi-state legislators working to change PJM’s distribution and rates to protect consumers and be open to more alternative energy sources.
Q5 Pennsylvania has proposed more reporting, utility oversight, and zoning guidance for large data centers, along with shifting some generation, capacity, and reliability costs onto data center developers rather than ordinary ratepayers. How should the costs and benefits of large data center development be divided between developers and the public, and what requirements, if any, would you support on power, water, and public reporting before a project moves forward?
As a member of the Consumer Protection and Utilities Committee, we have been working to address the issue of data center development in PA. During the budget season this year, the House passed numerous bills trying to slow down and protect residents from datacenter development until we can make informed decisions about how and if datacenter should be built. Unfortunately most of those proposals did not make it into the final budget product. I was happy to see Governor Shapiro take action by Executive Order to attempt to put guardrails on datacenter development. Many of the things in the Executive Order and things we have been working on legislatively, and will continue to do so through the rest of this term. While I recognize the importance of AI and the impact for good it is having in some areas of society, there has to be balance. Protecting the public health and safety of the people and protecting our natural water resources will always be at the forefront of my decision making on this issue.