Lawmakers return to Columbia; hope to tackle immigration, spending
By SEANNA ADCOX Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA - South Carolina legislators welcomed each other back Tuesday with smiles and back slaps on the first day of the 2008 General Assembly session.

The South Carolina House and Senate gaveled to order shortly after noon.

Much of the day was spent on housekeeping matters, like seat and committee assignments.

Priorities in the Januaryto June session include curtailing immigration, capping state spending and adding transparency to the budget by requiring names beside money requests, lawmakers said.

All House and Senate seats are up for election and the public feud between the Republican-controlled Legislature and Republican Gov. Mark Sanford is likely to continue.

Four new members, all Republicans, were sworn in Tuesday: Reps. Shannon Erickson and Heyward Hutson, and Sens. Paul Campbell and Shane Massey. The new members added one Republican to the General Assembly, where about 60 percent of the seats in both houses belong to the GOP.

Sen. John Hawkins previewed his bill that would ban payday lending in South Carolina.

Last year, the Spartanburg Republican helped craft legislation to regulate the industry that is up for debate in the Senate. But Hawkins said the industry opposes even modest reforms, so he wants to ban it altogether.

''The working poor of South Carolina, the people living paycheck to paycheck, are being truly devastated by this,'' said Hawkins, an attorney who is suing the industry on clients' behalf. ''The people they're making most of their money off of are trapped in an endless cycle of debt.''

The industry has argued its short-term loans are a better alternative to people bouncing checks or paying late fees.

The leaders of both the House and Senate want more regulations, but don't support a ban.

Without payday lending as a last resort, people could be driven to loan sharks, said House Speaker Bobby Harrell.

''I'd rather it be legal than underground,'' said Senate Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, who is equally offended by fees and higher interest rates charged by credit card companies for late payments.

Guests on the House floor Tuesday included former Rep. Converse Chellis, who resigned last year after being elected state treasurer, and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins, who was the chamber's speaker for 11 years before becoming ambassador in summer 2005.

Wilkins received a standing ovation at the House Republican Caucus meeting before session started.

''I miss you,'' he said after the clapping stopped. ''I feel as much a part of this group now as I did 2 1/2 years