Summary Box: Obama Wants Jobless Aid For States

JOBLESS ASSISTANCE: The White House wants to give states the opportunity to collect more unemployment insurance taxes from businesses in 2014. It says the proposal would compel the states to "rationalize" what jobless assistance they offer and how they pay for it.

UNDER PRESSURE: Many states have had to deplete their unemployment insurance trust funds as the number of jobless has increased.

THE PLAN: The administration is recommending that, starting in 2014, the taxable income levels used to tax businesses for the jobless assistance would increase from $7,000 to $15,000.