House of Representatives leaders made clear they want to pass a temporary measure to avoid a possible government shutdown while pushing for U.S. budget austerity.
With lawmakers away in their home districts for the summer break, Republican leaders have been weighing their approach to two upcoming budget standoffs with President Barack Obama - over the annual spending bill and the impending debt limit increase.
Republicans came away bruised from fights over the two issues in the past. Aides said no final decisions have been made and it may take a few weeks to hammer out a strategy that could be embraced by a party known for its fractiousness.
House Speaker John Boehner used a conference call with members on Thursday to brief them on the ideas being considered, and how best to use the confrontations to put pressure on the Democratic president.
The options include using a deadline in November for raising the nation's borrowing limit as leverage to push Republican causes. Their main priorities are weakening Obama's signature healthcare changes, securing broad tax reforms and getting Obama to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada and the northern states to Texas Gulf refineries.
Boehner's immediate priority is to avoid a political backlash should Republicans and Obama fail to agree on a budget by October 1.
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