Shaheen Proposing Jobless Benefits To All

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen plans to introduce an amendment next week that would give at least another 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to workers nationwide.

Shaheen and other members of the Senate this week have been fighting a House-passed bill that would extend the benefits only to people from states where the jobless rate is at least 8.5 percent. That leaves out states with lower unemployment rates, such as New Hampshire.

Shaheen's measure would offset the cost of extending unemployment by using some of the taxpayer-funded TARP bailout funds to support workers. She plans to offer her amendment to legislation that will only offer four weeks of extended unemployment benefits to workers in 23 states, while the other 27 states would receive 17 weeks of extended unemployment benefits.