From the Union Leader…

State Rep. James Ryan, jailed since Tuesday in connection with 1992 forgery charges, has lost his chairmanship of the House Transportation Committee.

House Speaker Terie Norelli announced last night she was replacing the Franklin Democrat with the committee’s vice chair, Rep. Robert Williams of Concord. Ryan also has been removed as co-chair of the Committee to Elect House Democrats, and replaced by Rep. Frank Davis of Pembroke.

Ryan, state chairman of U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden’s presidential primary campaign, was arrested on charges that he has not met a court order to pay $9,675 on what his lawyer said was once $33,000 in court-ordered restitution.

“It is critically important that the public have confidence in the integrity of the legislative process,” Norelli said.