Md. lawmakers worried about AstraZeneca jobs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Maryland’s two U.S. senators and four of the state’s eight representatives are urging drug maker Pfizer Inc. to make sure that its proposed merger with AstraZeneca PLC doesn’t eliminate Maryland jobs.

They sent a letter Monday to Pfizer Chairman Ian Read, following a similar plea last week from the governors of Maryland and Delaware.

AstraZeneca employs about 3,100 people in Maryland and about 2,600 in Delaware.

The letter was signed by senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, and representatives C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Chris Van Hollen, John Sarbanes and John Delaney. All are Democrats.

The AstraZeneca jobs are mainly provided through its MedImmune subsidiary, which has large operations in Montgomery and Frederick counties. Those areas are mainly represented by Delaney in the 6th Congressional District and Van Hollen in the 8th.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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