Both parties in Congress are discussing fallback plans for $60billion to $100 billion in deficit reduction to avert largerspending cuts and tax increases that could trigger a recession in2013, according to several congressional aides.

With Republicans including House Speaker John Boehner saying abroad tax-and-spending deal after the Nov. 6 election probablycan't happen, the two parties are separately discussing a downpayment to replace at least half of $110 billion in automaticspending cuts set to begin in January, said the Democratic andRepublican aides.

Congress might delay the rest of the spending cuts whilelawmakers work on entitlement or tax policy changes in the firsthalf of 2013, said the aides, who weren't authorized to talkpublicly about the discussions.