Obama Wants "Emergency" Extension of Unemployment Benefits After Signing Spending Bill That Has It Expiring Today For 1.3 Million People

Took a break from his Hawaii vacation

President Obama briefly interrupted his holiday vacation here Friday to urge Congress to pass an emergency extension of unemployment benefits.

With roughly 1.3 million out-of-work Americans set to lose their unemployment insurance starting Saturday, the White House said that Obama placed separate telephone calls Friday to Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to offer his support for their proposal to extend benefits for three months.