WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for a two-stage effort to boost the shaky U.S. economy: a $60 billion-to-$100 billion stimulus package this month, followed early next year by a companion measure that would include a "permanent tax cut."

Rep. Pelosi's call for aggressive action came as Mr. Obama scheduled a meeting Friday with members of his economic transition team. Taken together, the twin moves signaled that the flagging economy will receive immediate attention from a Democratic Party fresh off huge electoral wins Tuesday, but anxious about turmoil in the stock market, a shriveling job market and plunging home prices.