Pelosi hopes for stimulus bill by Inauguration Day

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during a meeting in her office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Susan Walsh

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during a meeting in her office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is promising Congress will try to have a huge economic recovery bill ready for President-elect Barack Obama as soon as he takes office.

The California Democrat said Monday that lawmakers will press ahead in hopes the huge bill will be ready for Obama’s signature when he takes office on Jan. 20. The measure could total $500 billion for infrastructure, aid to states with their Medicaid costs and renewable energy development.

Congress convenes Jan. 6, which would give lawmakers just two weeks to complete the bill if it is to be signed right away.