https://www.siliconvalley.com/2021/01/08/key-senate-democrat-says-hell-block-2000-stimulus-checks/ > WASHINGTON – Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin on Friday said he opposed the payment of bigger direct checks to help Americans cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, throwing cold water on possible further stimulus payments as the Democrats regain control of the Senate and the White House. > Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia, a conservative stronghold, told the Washington Post in an interview that he would “absolutely not” support a new round of payments, despite Democratic leaders’ calls for $2,000 checks.