A Kansas state lawmaker says he's resigning after House Speaker Ray Merrick stripped him and another Republican of their committee chairmanships.
Merrick says his move followed what he called an attempt to manipulate rules by forcing debate on a Senate bill that could have led to expanded Kansas gambling.
Merrick says he had a "very heavy heart" in ousting Rep. John Rubin of Shawnee from leading the House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee. The House speaker also removed Abilene Rep. John Barker as head of the House Rules Committee.
Rubin later told the Topeka Capital-Journal that he would resign at the end of Tuesday, and that he had no further comment.
