On December 28, 1.3 million Americans were
immediately cut off of their unemployment insurance coverage. New data from
states across the country highlights the harm local communities will face due
to the Republican failure to extend unemployment insurance before leaving for
the winter holiday break.
When Congress failed to extend the federal Emergency
Unemployment Compensation program more than 58,700 people in Massachusetts lost
their insurance coverage immediately on Dec. 28, according to the Massachusetts
Department of Unemployment Assistance. An additional 54,800 people in
Massachusetts will lose their coverage in the first six months of 2014 if
Republicans continue to block an extension of the program, according to
Department of Labor estimates.
