Trump wants swift action in Congress whether in one bill or two

WASHINGTON -President-elect Donald Trump wants Congress to pass his agenda of cutting taxes, tightening border entries and boosting fossil fuel production as swiftly as possible, whether in one bill or two, he said on Monday.

"I would prefer one, but I will do whatever needs to be done to get it passed," he said in an interview on the Hugh Hewitt radio program. "I'm open to either way as long as we get something passed as quickly as possible."

Trump, who takes office in two weeks, said on Sunday that his fellow Republicans in Congress could cover the cost of his priorities — which could amount to trillions of dollars — by raising tariffs on imported goods.

"Republicans must unite, and quickly deliver these Historic Victories for the American People. Get smart, tough, and send the Bill to my desk to sign as soon as possible," he wrote in a post on his social media platform on Sunday.

Republicans who control both chambers of Congress by narrow majorities have been weighing a complex legislative strategy that could allow them to bypass Democratic opposition to boost border spending and extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, which are due to expire this year.

Lawmakers have been divided over whether to pass those bills separately or combine them into one package.

A single bill could potentially allow them to fulfill Trump's campaign promises quickly, but it could also alienate lawmakers who object to specific provisions. Republican lawmakers from high-tax states such as New York and New Jersey, for example, want to change some of the 2017 tax cuts that adversely affected residents in their districts.

Trump is also urging Republicans to eliminate taxes on income from tips, which could increase the overall cost of the legislation.

On Monday, he also said some work could get done earlier on the border with money clawed back from other areas.

Asked if he would address the immigrants known as Dreamers who entered the country illegally as children as part of a single bill, Trump said he was open to discussing them.

"I don't think it has to be in that bill, but I'm okay with talking about the Dreamers. It's been a long time," Trump said on Monday.

Republicans plan to invoke a set of complicated budget rules to pass these bills with simple majorities, rather than the supermajority of 60 needed to advance most bills in the 100-member Senate. That would mean they would not have to appeal to Democrats, but also would limit what they could include in the package.

Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate and face a high-wire act in the House of Representatives, where their narrow 219-215 majority means they must stay united to pass legislation.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Don Durfee, Saad Sayeed and Howard Goller)