Wis. Senate Approves Extending Unemployment Benefits
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin state Senate has approved extending federal unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks.
The Senate voted 30-3 on Tuesday to pass the bill, which is scheduled to be taken up by the Assembly on Wednesday. Gov. Scott Walker has said he will sign it.
The extended federal unemployment benefits are designed to serve as a safety net for an unemployed person who has exhausted all other state and federal benefits. They're available after a person has received unemployment for about a year and a half.
Up to 40,000 people are estimated to be eligible for the $363 a week in benefits.
The extended benefits would apply retroactively from April.
The bill would also do away with a one-week waiting period before people can start to collect unemployment.
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