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Newly elected state Sen. Lewis Vaughn, R-Greer, advocates a law that would call for local police to check everyone's immigration status if stopped for a traffic violation.

Show me the money, says Greer Police Chief Dan Reynolds, in so many words.

As the state Legislature convenes in Columbia this week, immigration reform and workers' compensation reform are two of Vaughn's top priorities.

Early-childhood reading tops state Rep. Phil Shoopman's list. The Greer Republican represents District 18, Greenville County.

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"Instead of going willy-nilly and throwing a bill out there, I'd like to talk with the people involved first so we can craft something that has some meaningful teeth into it, and we'll be filing that hopefully in the first couple of months of the session," Shoopman said.

Shoopman replaces Vaughn, who held the House seat for 18 years. Vaughn is filling the term of the late Sen. J. Verne Smith.

During his campaign, Vaughn said that while the federal government is responsible for immigration, "If someone is stopped for a speeding violation, and they're not American citizens, then they should be apprehended and turned over to the federal government for deportation."

Reynolds said, "When you put the obligation on me to enforce immigration laws, you'd better provide me -- state, first -- the money to do that."

Vaughn is in sync with the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce's priorities for the year on workers' compensation and affordable health care for small-business employees.

Chamber CEO John Kimbrell said the chamber wants the General Assembly to increase funding for road maintenance and continue to fund the Education Economic Development Act.

Vaughn said the state Department of Transportation needs more accountability. He believes the process used to rank road projects needs to be "strengthened and tweaked" so that projects are picked based on need, not politics.

Shoopman serves on the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs committee and Vaughn on the Judiciary Committee.

Contact Nan Lundeen at 298-4316 or e-mail nlundeen@greenvillenews.com.