WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives approved an $819 billion economic-stimulus package by a largely party-line vote yesterday, extending an early legislative victory to President Obama while failing to follow his pledge to preside over a new era of bipartisan consensus.

The bill passed by a vote of 244 to 188, with no Republican support and 11 Democrats voting against it. Members of both parties said that despite Obama's overtures to Republicans - including a trip this week to Capitol Hill to woo members in person - the congressional leadership of both parties approached the stimulus legislation with the same unrelenting partisan tactics Obama attacked during his campaign and inaugural address.

"It's really not a bipartisan process so I don't think you can expect a bipartisan vote," said Representative Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican. "If the president had his druthers, we would be included. . . . But they've locked us out. We've seen a very heavy-handed leadership on this."

Yesterday's vote to approve the package of $275 billion in individual and business tax cuts and $544 billion in new spending - too much spending, according to the Republican minority - showed that Obama could get his way on major issues without the type of cross-party support he had hoped to get on a bill he has described as crucial to the country's economic recovery.

Yet if Obama hoped to win Re publican backing for future proposals, legislators said, he would have to push the Democratic leadership to be more accommodating to the minority party.

"You can't fault Barack for not reaching out. He's reached out certainly more than any president in modern history," said Representative Jim Cooper, a conservative Tennessee Democrat who voted against the bill.

"You'll gradually see the leadership being more inclusive and bipartisan, but Barack is leading the way. . . . It might not succeed on the first engagement, but it will pay off in the future."

The bill, which includes new funding for food stamps, digital health records, and new energy technologies, among many other provisions, will move on to the Senate, where it could grow to more than $1 trillion by the time it comes up for a likely vote next week. Legislators remained optimistic that a final version of the legislation could reach the White House by the time Congress plans to adjourn for its Presidents' Day recess in mid-February.

"I hope that we can continue to strengthen this plan before it gets to my desk," Obama said in a statement minutes after passage. "But what we can't do is drag our feet or allow the same partisan differences to get in our way."

House Republican leaders proved successful at rallying their shrunken minority to stand united against a bill they described as too wasteful, built around traditional Democratic fiscal priorities unrelated to economic recovery. Eleven Democrats, primarily from conservative rural districts, joined them.