GOPers in the state Legislature "will attempt today to pass a bill that would revise a new law on prison reform and parole." They said 10/12 their plan would bar sexual and violent offenders from inclusion in the law, which requires all convicted criminals to go on parole nine months before their maximum sentence.

Dems say the effort will upend a well-designed and well-reasoned change to the corrections system that won approval from an overwhelming majority of the Legislature.

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The dispute over SB 500 "has ramifications" in the GOV race. 10/12, '02/'08 NH-01 candidate/ex-HHS Commis. John Stephen (R) "called on" Gov. John Lynch (D) to support the GOP package.

Stephen: "It's time for the governor to put an end to this and acknowledge that he has signed a flawed law and work to fix it. Tomorrow's legislative session is the perfect time to resolve this issue and stop the flow of violent criminals back on our streets early." Lynch's campaign has said Lynch has worked to make the state's laws on sexual offenders among the toughest in the country, and that the parole bill does not change that.

The GOP proposal "faces a tough hurdle today. It will take a two-thirds majority vote to suspend rules that prevent its introduction."

Lawmakers meet today to take up five bills that Lynch vetoed this summer. "They involve changes to the state right-to-know law, ethics laws, banking department powers and local firearms dealer licenses" (Fahey, New Hampshire Union-Leader, 10/12).

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New Hampshire Union-Leader endorsed Stephen (10/10).