WASHINGTON -- The House Democratic leadership is crafting new legislation to stimulate the shaky U.S. economy, and could call lawmakers back to the nation's capital shortly after the Nov. 4 election to take up the $150 billion measure.

No final decisions have been made on details of the package or changes to the congressional schedule. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and other Democratic leaders have discussed reconvening the House the week of Nov. 17 to act on a package that could include new government spending in areas...