WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House and U.S. lawmakers moved closer on Wednesday to agreement on an election-year economic package that President George W. Bush said would be "robust" enough to lift the economy out of the doldrums.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson talked into the evening and were upbeat about a possible deal on a $150 billion package likely to include tax rebates to workers and other measures aimed at heading off a recession.

Boehner told reporters following the meeting that lawmakers were "hopeful" about a deal and may have more to say on Thursday. Pelosi echoed those remarks, but said more talks may be needed before they were ready to announce a plan.