WASHINGTON - After a week of tumult on Wall Street and Washington, the House moved toward a final vote Friday on a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, an unprecedented government intervention designed to steady an economy on the brink.

Congressional leaders expressed quiet confidence they would have the votes to send the measure to President Bush for his signature by day's end, four days after an earlier version was rejected.

"Our economy is not stable. Working families are suffering. Unemployment is over 10 percent in my district," said Rep Hilda Solis. The California Democrat voted against the measure that failed on Monday, but this time, she said she was considering a switch.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rejected once amid public fury about bailing out reckless financiers, a $700 billion rescue package is getting a second chance in the House as voters anxiously ponder an economic meltdown that could wipe out their ability to borrow, plunder their savings and put them out of work.

Republicans and Democrats were jumping aboard the bailout as the House sped toward a make-or-break vote - a much-anticipated do-over after the plan met with a stunning defeat Monday, triggering a historic stock market plunge.

It was still unclear, though, whether leaders would have the dozen or so supporters needed to pass the measure.

One thing was unmistakable: the economy is in trouble. The Labor Department reported Friday that employers slashed payrolls by 159,000 in September, the most in more than five years. The figures also show that many more people left the labor force for any number of reasons. The Dow Jones industrials futures rose 25 to 10,582 after being down amid the announcement of Well Fargo & Co.'s agreement to purchase Wachovia Bank.

The Bush White House suggested it as even more convincing evidence of why lawmakers must act now. "The best action we can take to limit damage to the economy is to pass the emergency rescue package legislation in the House," said spokesman Tony Fratto.

The plan likely to be voted on in the House would allow the government to spend billions of dollars to buy bad mortgage-related securities and other devalued assets from troubled financial institutions. If it works, advocates say, that would allow frozen credit to begin flowing again and prevent a serious recession.