Among the Kansas delegation on Monday, the legislation to bail out the financial markets wasn’t close: three House members from Kansas voted against the plan while one voted for it.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Topeka, voted against it, saying that she had spoken with many economists over the past week, and they all said they weren’t sure if the legislation would have worked.

Boyda, whose district includes western Lawrence, also said it was too risky for taxpayers, and failed to address basic problems in the economy.

“The only problem is that if we spent $700 billion on this option and it doesn’t work, then we don’t have that money to spend on doing what really needs to be done to strengthen our economy for the short and the long term,” she said.

And, she said, the bill failed to establish real reforms “to curb the excesses of Wall Street that got us to this point.”

Her opponent in the Nov. 4 general election, State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, said she opposed the bill too, saying it lacked protections for taxpayers, failed to address the cause of the problem and set a bad precedent by making “it more likely for Washington to step in to ‘solve the problem’ in the future.”

But U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Lenexa, whose district includes eastern Lawrence, voted for the bill.

He said the legislation represented a bipartisan compromise that contained taxpayer protections. Moore said Congress should remain in session until it passes a plan.

“But make no mistake, inaction is not an option,” he said. “The Dow dropped 777 points and our economy hangs in the balance as the choking off of credit will increase the costs and difficulties for anyone who borrows to pay a mortgage, college tuition, buy a car, or purchase small business inventory.”

Moore’s opponent, Republican Nick Jordan, criticized both Moore and President Bush, who came to Kansas in May for a private fundraiser for Jordan.

“From Dennis Moore to George Bush, Washington’s politics-as-usual is not getting the job done,” Jordan said. Jordan said he would’ve voted against the bill.

Kansas’ remaining House members, Jerry Moran, R-Hays, and Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, voted against the measure.

“While I want to take every step to avoid everyday Kansans from suffering the consequences of problems on Wall Street, I am opposed to legislation which brazenly shifts the burden of risk from Wall Street to taxpayers,” Moran said.

Tiahrt called the legislation “a rush to judgment.”

He added, “This is a plan crafted by Washington insiders to give money we cannot afford to greedy people who live the lifestyle of the rich and famous.”