Tim Leeds Havre Daily News tleeds@havredailynews.com
A bill sponsored by a local legislator trying to increase the chances of upgrading U.S. Highway 2 has passed out of committee at the state House of Representatives. Senate Bill 222, which removes stipulations on the direction to the Montana Department of Transportation on widening Highway 2 to four lanes where it runs through Montana, passed the House Transportation Committee on a 12-0 vote. Sen. Ken “Kim” Hansen, D-Harlem, sponsored the bill, which removes requirements that the state seek special federal appropriations to widen Highway 2 and that widening it cannot jeapordize other state highway projects. Former Sen. Sam Kitzenberg, R-Glasgow, agreed to the stipulations during negotiations when he sponsored the bill directing MDT to widen Highway 2 to four lanes. Hansen has said those stipulations put special restrictions on widening Highway 2. All he wants is the highway to be on the same playing field as the rest of the state highways, he said. The state legislative Web site reports that Rep. Wendy Warburton, R-Havre, will carry the bill in the house.
