WaPo: Biden push for new stimulus checks runs into roadblock from key Democratic senator
President-elect aims to move quickly on stimulus plan as economy sheds jobs, but already faces divisions within partyhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/01/08/biden-stimulus-plan/
President-elect Joe Biden’s plans for a major new economic relief package boosting stimulus payments to $2,000 ran into possibly fatal opposition from his own party Friday as Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) said he would “absolutely not” support a new round of checks. Manchin, a moderate who will hold great sway in a Senate split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, made his views known even as the Biden team worked to develop a coronavirus relief package that would include new stimulus checks, extended unemployment benefits, and more.
Biden is also expected to push for additional funding for vaccine distribution, as well as money that will help states and cities, as part of his initial package, according to three people with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement. With economic conditions deteriorating, Biden wants to get a new relief package passed as quickly as possible after his Jan. 20 inauguration. Biden has made new stimulus checks a central promise, specifically telling Georgia voters that they would be getting $2,000 payments if Democrats won Senate elections in the state this week.
Democrats did win those races, clinching a majority in the Senate and unified control of Washington for the first time since the start of the Obama administration. Following the Georgia wins, incoming Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) also pledged that the $2,000 checks would be an early priority. But with such slim margins, Biden and Schumer may not be able to lose even a single Democratic vote if they attempt to move legislation under special Senate rules that allow bills to pass with a simple majority, instead of the 60 vote margin generally required.
Without united Democratic support Biden would need to attract Republican votes for his proposal. And while some Republicans have supported $2,000 stimulus payments, but there is scant GOP support for other elements of Biden’s emerging plan, such as extending unemployment benefits. That means Manchin’s opposition to new stimulus payments could kill Biden’s proposal altogether, or force him to reshape it dramatically. And it offers an early preview of the challenges Biden will face in governing over the next four years even with his party controlling both chambers of Congress.
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... and with that kind of influence, no way he votes for DC statehood and makes it 52-50 just my prediction. 
Manchin's been a royal PITA for a long time now - and the article calls him a "moderate?" I think it would be more like a DINO.
And now he has more power than ever since he can be the single vote needed for something.
It is amazing that he'd be against the next check - his state (W.Va) would certainly be one that would benefit from such a bill.
This all reminds me of the "Blue Dogs" (more DINO's) that PRESIDENT OBAMA had to work with to get some of his programs passed early in his administration.
We REALLY do have more work to do to get some solid footing in both the House and Senate in 2022. That doesn't mean I'm not pleased with where we are - it's a good start! 
so why not cheat them out of a stimulus check? 
