Trump signals flexibility after demanding one big, beautiful bill for border, taxes: Im open to either way

President-elect Donald Trump backtracked slightly Monday after insisting that Congress should shove his major legislative objectives into “one big, beautiful bill.”Trump, 78, told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that he was open to crafting two separate measures on topics including taxation, border security and energy — provided the Republican-held House and Senate can approve them in a timely manner.“While I favor one bill, I also want to get everything passed.And there are some people that don’t agree with us, I’m open to that also.

My preference is one big beautiful bill,” Trump explained.“Now, to do that takes longer … it’s a longer process.I would say I’d live with that … To me it’s just cleaner, it’s nicer.

That being said, we’d get some border work done a little bit earlier,” the president-elect added.“I’m open to either way as long as we get something passed as quickly as possible.”Trump and GOP leaders in Congress have been mapping out a suite of reforms to border security, national defense, and tax policy.

However, they are forced to grapple with slim majorities in both chambers — as well as a vocal renegade faction in the House.Republicans begin the 119th Congress with 53 Senate seats, below the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome the filibuster for most legislation.To get around the procedural hurdle and enact most of the legislation Trump wants, Republicans will need to rely on a technical and time-consuming process known as budget reconciliation.Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has favored a two-track approach, with a package of border security, defense, and energy reforms that will go to Trump’s desk first.Then later in the year, Republicans would pass a second bill extending the 2017 tax cuts and enacting other reforms, including removing levies on tips.Proponents of the two-track approach have contended that it will enable Trump to get a jump on shoring up the southern border following four ...