Scuffle costs Santana Ag Committee seat

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A Detroit lawmaker has lost a committee assignment in the Michigan House because of his role in a heated altercation at the Capitol last month.

A spokesman for Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger said Wednesday that Democratic Rep. Harvey Santana has been removed as minority vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

House sergeants and other lawmakers intervened to keep Santana separated from Detroit Democratic Rep. David Nathan near the end of a 12-hour session on Dec. 15. Nathan was at his seat when Santana approached his desk.

Bolger spokesman Ari Adler says "physical aggression cannot and will not be tolerated."

Santana has apologized for the incident. He said Wednesday that the committee removal is Bolger's decision.

Nathan won't lose any committee assignments because of the incident.