The Stand Up Desk
November 16, 2022
Roar of the Crowd: December 2022
Reader letters published in our December 2022 issue.
Paul Burka
Latest
1-43 of 43 Articles
The Stand Up Desk
October 13, 2022
A Writer’s Close Call While Reporting on the Ciudad Juárez Femicides
A man approached Cecilia Ballí and asked, “Are you looking for work?” It shook her—and helped her grasp the danger in early-aughts Juárez.
Texas History
September 8, 2022
Farewell to the Dean of Texas’s Capitol Press Corps
How Texas Monthly’s Paul Burka held the powerful to account—and made Texas a better place.
Being Texan
August 15, 2022
Remembering Paul Burka—The State’s Most Revered Political Writer Was the Heart and Soul of Texas Monthly
Friends and former colleagues share their memories of the legendary writer, editor, and mentor.
Politics & Policy
March 23, 2015
What I’ve Learned
Paul Burka bids farewell to Texas Monthly—and wonders what happened to the Texas he once knew.
Politics & Policy
March 18, 2015
Goodbye to a Writer
The unrivaled legacy of Paul Burka.
BBQ
March 2, 2015
Texas Barbecue Appreciation Society
For forty years, Paul Burka has been a part of Texas Monthly. His retirement officially begins today, on Texas Independence Day. His legacy will live on in Texas Monthly’s list of the best and worst legislators, and his celebrated career has made an impact on Texas politics. But what few know
Politics & Policy
January 12, 2015
The Last Forty Years—and the Future
The dean of the Capitol press corps announces his upcoming retirement from Texas Monthly.
BBQ
May 9, 2014
Texas Barbecue Monthly
As you read this, Texas Monthly’s editor, Jake Silverstein, is moving the last few items out of his office. He has traded his view of the Texas Capital building for that of a Duane Reade and is moving to the New York Times Magazine. We’ll miss that guy.And I personally owe him
Politics & Policy
January 20, 2013
Dollars and Sense
When the Legislature meets in January, lawmakers know they won’t be able to cut their way to a balanced budget. Instead, they should do what a certain Republican governor did more than twenty years ago: raise taxes.
Books
January 20, 2013
Join Texas Monthly at the Texas Book Festival
TEXAS MONTHLY is proud to be a sponsor of the Texas Book Festival, which is held in Austin on October 16 and 17. For a complete listing of events, check out the official schedule. To see which sessions TEXAS MONTHLY editors and writers are participating in, see the schedule
Politics & Policy
January 20, 2013
Show Me the Money
Paul Burka talks about cutting $18 billion from the Texas budget, separating the essential from the nonessential, and spending money on bricks and mortar.
Feature
January 20, 2013
The Man Who Wasn’t There
Every family has its myths. Some are intended to reveal, and some are intended to conceal, and sometimes the intentions can get confused. The problem with myth, however, is that it can overpower history. That’s what happened in the case of my father, who died when I was four. Only
Business
April 3, 2012
Condemning the Judges Who Eviscerated the Open Beaches Act
Land Commisioner Jerry Patterson, former Galveston legislator A.R. Schwartz, and TEXAS MONTHLY's Paul Burka all blast the Texas Supreme Court for last week's ruling.
Politics & Policy
November 27, 2011
Court’s Interim Redistricting Map Claims Aaron Peña
Longtime Rio Grande Valley legislator and recent Republican convert Aaron Peña won’t seek a seat in the next election.
Politics & Policy
August 19, 2011
My 15 minutes of fame
The good people who sign my paychecks have asked me to do radio and television commentary regarding Governor Perry, when news organizations make requests. I have been doing a lot of this recently, including NBC Nightly News and The News Hour. They mainly want to know who Rick Perry is.
Politics & Policy
June 29, 2011
A response to Michael Quinn Sullivan
Michael Quinn Sullivan has a bone to pick with me. I am the subject of a blog post by Sullivan published on the Empower Texans web site yesterday under the headline, “Texas Monthly: Disclosure-Free Zone.” Sullivan objects to the fact that in an April column about
Contributors
September 30, 2010
October 2010 Contributors
Christopher and Kathleen Sleboda, D. J. Stout, and Paul Burka.
Politics & Policy
December 23, 2009
Banned Wagon
Ross Ramsey, writing in the Texas Tribune today, has a story that the Hutchison campaign asked that I not be allowed to be a panelist on the gubernatorial debate on the grounds that KERA, the Dallas PBS station that is hosting the debate, and NPR both have policies against opinion
Politics & Policy
June 24, 2009
LYCEUM POLL: PERRY 33, HUTCHISON 21
Here are the numbers. Commentary follows. Approval Ratings Obama as president Approve 68% Disapprove 29% Obama economic policy Approve 63% Disapprove 34% Rick Perry Approve 57% Disapprove 30% Kay Bailey Hutchison Approve 65% Disapprove 17% John Cornyn Approve 55% Disapprove 19% Texas Legislature Approve 58% Disapprove 28% Democratic Primary (Governor)
Politics & Policy
May 8, 2009
GOPAC wants my opinion: Here it is
I came home last night to find a GOPAC survey in my e-mail queue. I tend to vote in Republican primaries (4 of the 6 elections starting in 1998), since that is the only election that matters for statewide candidates, so I assume that is how they found me. Here
Politics & Policy
May 1, 2009
Dear Paul
Dear Paul, You have covered me throughout my career in public service to Texas so you remember I was a proud Republican even when we could hold our gatherings in a phone booth. Having helped make the GOP the dominant party in Texas in the late 90s, I am committed
Politics & Policy
April 30, 2009
Free at last
Arlen Specter’s party switch gives new life to the old issue of if and when Hutchison should resign her seat. Now that the Democrats have a filibuster-proof majority, she is no longer under any compulsion to remain in the Senate to prevent the Democrats from passing their agenda. She can
Politics & Policy
February 12, 2009
Committees — Winners and Losers
The big winners, of course, were the ABCs. Each of the eleven received a chairmanship. Six are on Calendars. The chairs: Pitts/Appropriations: as expected Cook/Environmental Regulation: A story made the rounds yesterday that he wasn't happy, but he lives in an area that is affected by coal plants and cement
Politics & Policy
January 5, 2009
Ich bin ein Speaker!
Burka and Eileen discuss probable Speaker Joe Straus, Craddick’s exit, horse racing, and whether bridge qualifies as gambling. Honorably mentioned: John Smithee, Burt Solomons, Dan Gattis, Jim Keffer, and playing the ponies. (And yes, I am wearing a scarf over my turtleneck. My space heater gave out, and I can’t
Politics & Policy
December 31, 2008
For Auld Lang Speaker
The final video of 2008. (You can thank me later.) Stick a fork in Craddick? Is he really done? Really? Honorably Mentioned: Gattis, Smithee, Solomons, Kolkhorst, Chisum, Straus, Hamilton, McCall, Dunnam, and just about every other House Member you can think of And who was that anonymous Republican source?
Politics & Policy
December 15, 2008
Just a Good Ol’ Boy
Paul Burka on Ed Kuempel, Terry Keel, and why mistresses should form their own union.
Politics & Policy
December 12, 2008
HUTCHISON TO RELEASE POLL TODAY; SHOWS 55-31 LEAD
The poll was conducted by Voter Consumer Research between December 7 and December 9. The telephone survey included 601 general election voters and 466 Republican primary voters. The margin of error for the general election survey was +/- 4.1%, and +/- 4.6% for Republican primary voters. Favorability: * 67% of
Politics & Policy
December 8, 2008
Secret Disservice
Your daily space queen video! It’s worth clicking on just to see what I look like when I forget to sit on a telephone book. Paul Burka on the secret speaker’s ballot, and why he was for it before he he was against it. (Flip flopper.) Honorably mentioned: Speaker Craddick,
Politics & Policy
December 5, 2008
I Swear Paul’s Here Somewhere
OK, so maybe he hasn’t “posted” any “updates” on Kay Bailey Hutchison’s exploratory committee, but I did catch Burka in the hall to do a video with me to at least talk about the interview he had with her yesterday. And I’m all, yesterday? She never returns my calls. In
Politics & Policy
November 25, 2008
State Secrets
Burka and Eileen preview the legislative sunset: How does an agency “misplace” $1 billion? Or lose one-third of its criminal files? Or let the governor’s mansion get torched? Or screw Texas homeowners? Don’t get mad, get even. Honorably mentioned: Steve Ogden, Lois Kolkhorst, John Carona, and Wayne Smith. Not so
Politics & Policy
November 23, 2008
Tuition de-reg: Will it be an issue in the speaker’s race?
Here’s the problem for Tom Craddick. The House passed tuition deregulation in 2003 for one reason and one reason only: The speaker twisted Republicans’ arms to get the votes. Almost six years later, tuition and fees at Texas’s public university have risen by an average of 50%, according to Robert
Politics & Policy
November 12, 2008
Show the Speaker Voting Me
Eileen and Paul talk about if the Speaker even matters, Craddicks and Anti-Craddicks, and whether Tom was popular in high school. Honorably Mentioned: Dan Branch, Lois Kolkhorst, Pete Gallego, Jim Dunnam, and, of course, Speaker Craddick
Politics & Policy
November 10, 2008
Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Place in Line
Latest video: Burka on the Speaker’s race, naming names, the “Craddick Effect” (copyright pending), and broken pledges. For the first time, Paul wonders if Craddick can keep his post. Honorably Mentioned: the candidates, the Conservative Coalition, Plan B, and Warren Chisum. (Note: If you are having trouble viewing this,
Politics & Policy
November 7, 2008
Bringing Down the House
Eileen talks with Burka about the cantankerous Speaker’s race, a House divided, Craddick D’s, ABC’s, and 2010 with KBH. Honorable video mentions include: Reps. Tommy Merritt; Jim Keffer; Pete Gallego; Craig Eiland; Dan Gattis; Alan Ritter; and Sylvester Turner.
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2008
The Speaker’s Race: Tomorrow
Here is what to watch for. If Craddick has the votes, he will lay out the names. If he doesn’t lay out the names, he doesn’t have the votes.
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2008
The Democratic Pledge: why it won’t work
Why is it that the Democrats insist on trying to act bossy? Is it genetic? Can’t they help themselves? The demand upon party discipline before they have won a majority is foolish. My last post on this subject was, I have to admit, a bit on the hysterical side, and
Bum Steers
January 1, 2007
Now That’s Funny
Senior executive editor Paul Burka on editing Bum Steers.
Bum Steers
January 1, 2001
Bum Deal
Executive editor Paul Burka and senior editor Anne Dingus tell the story behind January's cover story, "The 2001 Bum Steer Awards".
Politics & Policy
August 31, 1998
Split Vote
For and against George W. Bush; Wichita Falls bites back.
The Stand Up Desk
February 1, 1998
Texas Primer: Texas Monthly
Texas Primer Who’s been on our cover the most times? Ross is boss.
The Stand Up Desk
January 1, 1998
Roar of the Crowd
Race MattersI was captivated by paul Burka’s observation in “What’s Black and White and Red-faced All Over?” [December 1997] that “the only way to open the door to more minority students is to broaden—that means reduce—the standards for admissions.” The real question for society is this: Shall we lower our
The Stand Up Desk
September 30, 1996
Paul In The Family
Anyone who knows executive editor Paul Burka would have a hard time imagining him as a cowboy, so perhaps it seems farfetched that he was the one to write this month’s story about the plight of a small working ranch in Uvalde (“Home on the Range”). “I’m a