DENVER -- House leaders say they have no intention of letting their chamber turn into a circus.

Reacting swiftly to Rep. Elect Douglas Bruce's alleged kicking of Rocky Mountain News photographer Javier Manzano, House leaders formed a special bipartisan committee to gather the facts and submit recommendations.

"We want to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, so we've given the committe a fairly tight timeline," said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.

Bruce hadn't been sworn in yet at the time of the confrontation, so Romanoff said it wouldn't be appropriate for a regular House Ethics Committee to look into what happened.

Romanoff did say the special committee will likely have powers similar to an Ethics Committee, which can recommend discipline ranging from reprimand to expulsion.

House leaders said they were still looking into the specific authority they could give the panel, including subpoena power, and whether the meetings would be public

Bruce, a Colorado Springs Republican, accused the Rocky Mountain News photographer of causing a disruption by snapping his photo during the traditional session-opening prayer on Monday morning -- hours before Bruce was sworn in as a midterm replacement.

Bruce refused to apologize and called the kick "just a nudge."

Bruce said the photographer was in the wrong for taking his picture after he told him not to.

"I don't think it's unethical to ask somebody repeatedly not to disrupt the prayer and particularly my prayer and participation," Bruce said after Romanoff announced the investigation. "He didn't have any injury. He didn't fall over, it was just a nudge."

Romanoff, a Democrat, said the committee will be formed with the help of Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker.

"We both take this very seriously," Romanoff said.

"The first meeting of the committee co-chaired by Representatives Paul Weissman, D-Louisville, and Steve King, R-Grand Junction, will be at noon, Friday, Jan. 18, at the Capitol," said Romanoff.

The committee's recommendations are due by Jan. 25. Any action would require a two-thirds vote of the House.

Bruce was standing during the prayer when the photographer knelt down and snapped his photo. Bruce brought the sole of his shoe down hard on Manzano's bent knee and said, "Don't do that again."

Click here to see video of the incident.

"I think that's the most offensive thing I've seen a photographer do in 21 years," Bruce said later. "If people are going to cause a disruption during a public prayer, they should be called for it. He owes an apology to the House and the public."

Rocky Mountain News Editor John Temple said Manzano had a right to take Bruce's picture. Temple said he would discuss the incident with House leadership.

"The House floor is a place where journalists are allowed to operate. It's outrageous for Mr. Bruce in a public place to assault a photographer," Temple said.

"Why don't you ask the photographer if his making noises and blocking the aisle at the time of a prayer was the most intelligent thing to do?" Bruce said after the incident. "(The photographer) ought to be ashamed of himself."