WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she hopes Congress can return this month to approve spending measures to stimulate the depressed economy. She said much depends on finding common ground with the soon-to-depart Bush administration, which more often than not has been at odds with the Democratic majority.

At a postelection news conference, Pelosi said a new economic relief plan in the lame-duck session could set the stage for more extensive stimulus legislation in the new Congress when Democrat Barack Obama is president and Democrats have larger majorities in the House and the Senate.

The economic crisis has worsened since the House passed a $61 billion aid bill in September, she said. "The need for more has grown."

Pelosi, D-Calif., said she was in communication with the White House about a stimulus bill.

But White House spokesman Tony Fratto said there was no change in the administration's opposition to a measure similar to the one in September that focused on increased federal spending to rejuvenate the economy.

Passing economic aid legislation this year would require the acquiescence of Senate Republicans, who blocked Democratic attempts in September to consider a $56 billion bill that paralleled the House-passed legislation.

"The only way we can get anything done is with the cooperation of House and Senate Republicans and the White House," said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.