AMNA NAWAZ: Millions of Americans whose unemployment benefits expired this weekend
were watching and waiting to see if President Trump would sign the relief bill.
One of them is 60-year-old Michael West.
And he joins us now from his home in Huntington Beach, California.
Michael West, welcome to the "NewsHour," and thanks for making the time.
We should fill folks in and tell them you were working as an Uber driver before the pandemic hit.
Then the pandemic hit. Business dropped. Your doctor told you it is probably not
a good idea to go out and work because of your underlying health conditions.
So, give us a sense how hard it has been to make ends meet since then and how you have done it.
MICHAEL WEST, California: Well, it has been extremely difficult.
I didn't really know what I was going to do. And then the CARES Act passed.
And that was a godsend to get that -- the PUA program, which, as a gig worker,
allowed me to collect unemployment. And then the additional $600 a week on top of that
allowed me to basically replace what I was making prior to having just stopped working.
And so that got me through the spring and summer. And then, at the end of July,
when that program ended, the additional $600, it was really difficult. It was very difficult.
I live in Southern California. It's one of the most expensive places in the world to live.
And trying to make ends meet on $300 a week was excruciatingly difficult.
AMNA NAWAZ: Let me ask you this.
As you have watched the political back-and-forth over this latest relief bill, and then you
saw the president say part of the reason he delayed signing it was because he wanted to
get more money to people like you, what did you think? What was your reaction to that?
MICHAEL WEST: Well, quite frankly, it was infuriating.
When he finally did sign the COVID relief bill, after the delay, it basically cost
the people that are on PUA week of income, which effectively takes away our $600 stimulus check,
because that's roughly about how much we lose -- or at least I do.
So, I feel like this has been a political football. I feel like we have been pawns
in it. And I'm angry. I'm angry that, in the richest country in the world,
our Congress has done so little to help those that are suffering.
AMNA NAWAZ: Mr. West, you shared with us earlier, of course, that you
have lost family in recent years. Your 20-year business went under. You have
had some tough years. And then you have endured 2020 and all it brought with it.
What do you think you need now to get back onto your feet?
MICHAEL WEST: It's difficult for me.
I have worked hard my whole life. I have never really asked for anything
from the government. I have never had to rely on government assistance. But I didn't
choose to lose my job. I didn't choose to have all of this happen.
This happened through no fault of my own, and the same thing with millions of
other Americans that were caught in the same situation. We didn't choose this.
So, what I'd like to see happen is, I would like to see them increase the amount that they give
us in the way of that stimulus payment for the $2,000 that's been discussed.
And I would like to see the $300
additional unemployment backdated back to be paid retroactively back to the beginning of August,
when the previous program ended. That would help. That would help.
Otherwise, it's just a matter of trying to dodge the inevitable economic fallout that's coming,
the fear of eviction, not being able to pay rent, car payments, all the other expenditures,
to have to decide whether you're going to spend your money on food or whether
you're going to spend it on rent. It's just a very unfair proposition for us to be facing.
AMNA NAWAZ: Mr. West, I know millions of Americans can relate to what you are saying. So,
I'm very grateful to you for joining us to share your story.
That is Michael West of Huntington Beach, California.
Thank you.
MICHAEL WEST: Thank you. I appreciate it.