1.3 million Americans to lose unemployment benefits

A sign posted on a shopfront window offers employment opportunity to happy and creative people on October 22, 2013 in Pasadena, California. This month's political showdown likely shaved at least a quarter percent off fourth quarter economic growth and meant 120,000 fewer jobs were created in October, the White House said today. The US economy generated a less-than-expected 148,000 jobs during the last month, but revisions for July and August that added 9,000 net new positions to the data helped push the overall unemployment rate down.

Congress left for the holiday recess without approving a federal extension of jobless benefits for those who have been out of work for six months or longer. There are several proposals to extend unemployment floating around Congress but the two parties have clashed over how to pay for it.

Tomorrow marks the end of unemployment benefits for more than 200,000 Californians.

Congress left for the holiday recess without approving a federal extension of jobless benefits for those who have been out of work for six months or longer. There are several proposals to extend unemployment floating around Congress but the two parties have clashed over how to pay for it.

But the lack of a decision leaves 1.3 million Americas across the country without any more payments. Here to talk about the effects of this here in California is Maurice Emsellem, the co-policy director for the National Employment Law Project in Oakland.

For more information visit the Employment Development Department's information page here.