House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Wednesday it is unlikely that a second economic stimulus package could be completed before the Memorial Day break.

The Maryland Democrat said talks continue among Democratic leaders about elements of a new stimulus bill, such as more money for food stamps, extended unemployment benefits and infrastructure funding.

But when asked if the legislation could be completed before the break, Hoyer said, “Frankly, the honest answer is no.”

Tax rebates that were the centerpiece of the first stimulus measure (PL 110-185) just started flowing this week into the bank accounts of millions of Americans. Congress cleared that package Feb. 7, with unusual speed and bipartisanship, hoping that consumers would spend the money and help revive a flagging economy. Consumer spending accounts for roughly 70 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that the gross domestic product grew at a 0.6 percent annual rate in the first quarter, matching the fourth quarter’s advance. That was somewhat better than analysts expected, but consumer spending was weak, growing at a 1 percent rate compared with 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter.

The White House and congressional Republicans have resisted moving a second stimulus package until they assess the impact of the rebates, which offer a minimum of $300 per person ($600 per couple) to most households, and more for families with dependent children.

A top White House official Wednesday underlined the administration’s belief that a second stimulus bill is not needed any time soon.

“We don’t think the time is right in general to pass more legislation on that, and some of the ideas we’ve heard I’m not sure we’d ever think are a good idea — that would not really be relevant to promoting economic growth and just simply sound like more government spending,” said Stephen S. McMillin, deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

McMillin said he wasn’t aware of any detailed discussions between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., and administration officials on another stimulus package, though Pelosi has repeatedly called for such legislation.

“The only conversations I even hear about basically sound like . . . ‘Hey, I want to talk about stimulus two, we ought to do stimulus two,’” he said.

May Agenda

Hoyer outlined plans to consider at least a half-dozen major pieces of legislation before the break, starting next week with a supplemental fiscal 2008 spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that Democrats plan to use as a vehicle for domestic initiatives. Also on tap next week, he said, will be housing-related legislation designed to ease the mortgage crisis.

Hoyer told reporters he hopes the farm bill (HR 2419) conference report will be ready by next week. Negotiators are close to a final deal on that measure, but are still working to satisfy White House concerns.