WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. budget negotiators are considering, as one option, a straight up-or-down vote on increasing the country's borrowing authority, without spending cuts attached, a Republican aide said on Thursday.

"It is being considered among a lot of options. It hasn't been taken off the table," said Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Under such a scenario, there could be separate but parallel legislation on cutting spending.

He made the comments to reporters shortly after the first meeting between Vice President Joe Biden and congressional leaders on deficit-reduction and debt limit hike proposals.