Pyle seeking fourth term in Kansas' First Senate District

Republican Senator Dennis Pyle, 55, Hiawatha, is running for re-election to represent the First District in the Kansas Senate this general election.

Pyle has served in this role for 11 years since 2005, and he will face Democrat Jerry Henry on the Nov. 8 ballot.

“I am running for the same reason I first ran for office,” Pyle said. “I think those that are blessed in this world have an obligation to give back and make a difference. In the last few years, we’ve accomplished many things, most recently tax relief through the increase in the standard deduction for head of households.”

A lifelong resident of northeast Kansas, Pyle graduated from Hiawatha High School and attended Grace College of the Bible.

He has operated a farm and small cow/calf operation just north of Hiawatha since 1982.

Pyle served as a representative in the Kansas House from 2001 to 2002 prior to serving in the Senate.

During the last Legislative session, Pyle served on the following committees: Local Government, Natural Resources and Education.

He and his wife, Jennifer, have six children and one grandchild.

Would you vote to eliminate the LLC income tax exemption?

“Raising taxes on small businesses takes dollars from our rural communities and puts them in government hands for redistribution,” he said. “It’s also a textbook example of an anti-job/anti-growth proposal.”

Do you think we have a state spending problem or a state tax problem?

“Looking at the actual revenues, Kansans continue to contribute more dollars every year - we know the state has a spending problem when there is a continual habit of spending more than is taken in,” he said. “There’s a simple rule when it comes to government spending, increasing spending beyond the rate of growth is unsustainable in the long term. The only way to ensure that vital government services continue at a tax rate that doesn't decimate businesses and families is to cut spending now by prioritizing core functions of state government and cutting waste, fraud and abuse.” 

Would you vote to implement a flat state income tax on all state citizens?  

“I support putting the proposal before Kansas voters,” he said.

Would you vote to expand Medicaid?

“I oppose Medicaid expansions,” Pyle said. “If Kansans want expanded coverage, the state should reduce taxes and regulations, allowing private sector opportunities not more mandates like Obamacare. Health care and the regulatory challenges facing the state due to Obamacare will force huge cuts to vital state services and require massive tax increases.”

Do you think the state needs to provide more funds for public education?

“Administration funding is more than adequate. The percentage of budgeted dollars reaching the classroom, however, is less than 60 percent,” he said. “The first answer to school funding is not to spend more dollars but prioritize and direct dollars for increased efficiency and effectiveness. The last answer is to just spend more. We need to make sure the state gets the ‘biggest bang for the buck’ so that public education is as good as it can be and our rural schools get the support they deserve.

“We can accomplish this not only through funding, but just as importantly, making sure the money we spend is spent in a results-based way. I support focusing on classrooms and working to eliminate Topeka bureaucracy and other wasteful administration.”

Do you/did you send your children to private, public or home school, and how has it shape your view of funding for public schools?

Mr. Pyle did not respond to this additional question that we posed after the questionnaires had been mailed out.

Would you favor using KDOT funds to solely build safer roads and create jobs rather than to prop up the state general fund?

“All fuel tax revenues are used solely for infrastructure, which I do support,” he said. “Let’s start by clearing up the confusion. The revenues from sales tax that have been designated to KDOT are the revenues being transferred back to the state general fund for other state obligations. There is still ongoing discussion surrounding the policy of sales tax revenues going to KDOT rather than into the state general fund. I support a clear policy and long-term plan to address this situation. Only then can we bring about accountability on these funds and their specific uses.”

If elected, Pyle said his “deep-rooted private sector work ethic and advocacy for rural Kansas will continue.”

 “My experience and record is clear. I’ve always been a conservative Republican and stated up front my position on life, second amendment, federal encroachments like Obamacare and fiscal issues,” he said. “Making sure Kansas is more job friendly, strengthening education through accountable spending and making sure that state government respects working families is key to laying the foundation for today and for our future.

“Our quality of life must be protected, our rural schools defended and a healthy climate of job retention and growth maintained for our rural communities and small businesses. This will provide Kansas families quality education and safe communities. These folks are the backbone of the state, and we have to make sure that all of our laws respect their needs, property and rights. My continuing goal is to be a voice for limited government and accountable spending.” 

Pyle said it’s extremely important that lawmakers work together to make Kansas as job friendly as possible by incentivizing local businesses to expand, new businesses to form and out of state industries to relocate here.

“Rural Kansas needs a strong voice for families and businesses, and I have been and will continue to work to be that voice,” he said. “I have a proven record of consistent, reliable and honest leadership. It is one of my goals to continue working for private sector jobs and less government regulation and taxation to produce jobs through economic growth.

“Through spending restraint, we can improve the economy and produce better jobs. This way the tax burden on working families and small businesses is reduced. The big spenders take the position ‘raise taxes,’ which is the easy but bad choice economically and it grows government, putting more burdens on the private sector.

“Private sector job growth is the answer, and it is achieved through low taxes and less regulation,” Pyle said.

While in office the last few years, Pyle said he began efforts to stop government funded lobbying.

“In this term, I would like to continue that fight,” he said. “It’s bad enough the way the Legislature spends money as a result of lobbyist influence. The taxpayers’ deserve better than having their tax money fund those who advocate for spending more and raising their taxes.”

Pyle said he’s been able to accomplish much during his time in office.

“My record on life, second amendment, tax and spend policy is clear, having sponsored and co-sponsored many successful pieces of legislation dealing with these issues,” he said. “Getting the marriage amendment passed and in the Kansas Constitution was a promise made and delivered upon. I have stood up against federal encroachments like Obamacare and have worked for term limits. 

“I have gotten legislation (the SAFE Senior Act) passed helping seniors stay in their homes. My legislation raising the standard deduction on income tax has been beneficial to most Kansans. As the leader in the Legislature for taxpayer funded lobby reform, I have had success getting legislation passed in the Senate while standing against the entrenched establishment.

“It has always been a struggle making sure our rural schools are funded especially when five urban counties have half the votes in the Legislature, and as a Republican, it is critical to continue to get equity for our rural schools. As a farmer, representing our farm and ranch families, I have helped pass critical legislation and opposed federal mandates.”

Pyle is member of a local church, as well as The Gideons. He has also served on the resolutions committee of the Midwest Council of State Governments, American Legislative Exchange Tax and Fiscal Policy and Judicial committees, and he is a past member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Highway 36 Association.