Washington, D.C. ? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that Congress is unlikely to approve a tax rebate before President Bush leaves office, and she signaled that prospects are dim for a postelection session to pass an economic aid package.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Pelosi played down the chances that Democrats – increasingly confident of capturing the White House and building their House and Senate majorities substantially – could come to terms with Bush and vanquished congressional Republicans this fall on a plan to address Americans’ pocketbook woes.

Democrats have already called for a $61 billion package of jobless aid and spending, and are looking at adding to it as the financial meltdown exacerbates the economic crisis.

“What we’re doing is preparing,” Pelosi, D-Calif., said in an interview in her Capitol office. “We’ll come in if we have a purpose … if there’s something to pass that (Bush would) sign.”