multiple variable problem

multiple variable problem

This works:
function loadvdata(v) {
   $.ajax({
      type: "Get",
                url: '../sources/status.php',
      data: {status:v},
      success: callback,
      error:err
    });
}
$(document).ready(function(){
   $('#selectStatus').change(function(){
      v=$(this).val();
      vtype='status';
      loadvdata( v);
   });
});

this doesn't:
function loadvdata(vtype,v) {
   $.ajax({
      type: "Get",
                url: '../sources/status.php',
      data: {vtype:v},
      success: callback,
      error:err
    });
}
$(document).ready(function(){
   $('#selectStatus').change(function(){
      v=$(this).val();
      vtype='status';
      loadvdata(vtype, v);
   });
});

Any help is appreciated. My status.php page takes the variable 'status='whatever is chosen. The only difference between the two scripts above is that the second one creates the variable name in the on change function as well as the value. The only reason I want to do this is so I can reuse the loadvdata function with other selects... if there's a better way to do this I'm open to hearing that as well.
Thanks!