Congressman Rick Larsen said the economic stimulus package may come later, rather than sooner.

Rep. Larsen, a 2nd District Democrat, said it was unlikely that the much anticipated stimulus package would be ready for President Barack Obama to sign on his first day in office as many had hoped.

Instead, Larsen said it was more likely to reach the president’s desk by mid-February.

“I’ve certainly been pushing to have something by Jan. 20. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen,” Larsen said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters.

“I’m working to get it done as soon as possible and to get it done right. We need action now,” he said.

The 111th Congress was seated Tuesday. Larsen spent part of Wednesday at a forum held by the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and the meeting focused on the economic outlook and the economic stimulus package.

Larsen has heard many in Washington state talk about the sour economy, as well. He held 12 roundtable meetings on the economy during the past several months in the 2nd District, which includes Island, Skagit, San Juan and Whatcom counties and parts of King and Snohomish counties.

He said the economic recovery plan needs to focus on immediate job creation and long-term, sustained economic growth. That would include money for transportation, and Larsen said he has suggested that funding for ferries be included.

Part of the package, however, should help those already struggling. Larsen noted a letter he recently sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also signed by three other Congressmen, that said the economic recovery package should include $26 billion for anti-hunger programs. The additional funding would include $24 billion more for food stamps and $250 million for states that administer the program, plus $60 million for senior nutrition programs and an additional $1 billion for school meals programs.

“We need to help families who have been hit hard,” he said.

Larsen said economists have differed on how large the economic recovery package should be, and estimates have ranged from $750 billion to $900 billion. A total of 38 states are classified as being in a recession, and 2.4 million jobs were lost in 2008.

“It’s fair to say that everybody’s feeling the recession,” he said.

“We can argue about a billion here and a billion there, but I think the main point is, this package needs to be large,” Larsen said.

Larsen also said the economic recovery package would not include “earmarks,” money that is set aside for specific projects.

“There will be no earmarks. President-elect Obama has laid that marker down, and it’s an excellent marker,” Larsen said.

Instead, Larsen said the part of the package that helps pay for infrastructure projects would be structured using the existing formula for allocating federal transportation funding, with money going toward projects that would create jobs immediately as well as those that would provide sustained long-term job growth, such as programs to create “green” jobs in Washington state.

Ferry terminal projects and the construction of new vessels should also be included in the package, he said.