By JIM BOREN, Fresno Bee

Now that the state budget fiasco has exposed the many warts of California's legislative system, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is gathering ideas for a massive reform of state government. I'm taking him at his word that he's serious about making fundamental changes, and I have a proposals to offer.

During last year's state budget fiasco, I suggested that the California Legislature had outlived its usefulness, and the Senate and the Assembly should be abolished. A year later, our lawmakers have proved the wisdom of my idea.

You have to admire the political magic that Assembly Member Nicole Parra has spun to become the darling of San Joaquin Valley political scene. This was a termed-out California legislator who'd made enemies in her own party and was just counting the days until she could fishtail out of the Capitol parking garage.

In the debate over California's precious water, the talking points are very clear. It's a battle over helping wealthy corporate farmers or saving the fish. You are either for the big guys or those who want to save the planet. There's no middle ground.

Now that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom looks like he'll run for governor in two years, at least we're going to have a race with some glam. You'll recall that in the last gubernatorial election, the Democrats put up Phil Angelides as their candidate, and he turned out to be a real snoozer. Angelides is bright, likable and very boring.

One of the best things about being a kid is the do-over option. Most youthful mistakes are easily fixed when understanding parents let you try something again. Of course, sometimes heaving a baseball through the neighbor's window has them writing a check for damages. We called that a "don't do-over if you know what's good for you."

I'm convinced that two decades from now, the political script will be the same in California: The Democrats and Republicans will be squabbling over state finances, and the legal deadline for getting the budget passed will be missed.

These folks make the laws, but they sure don't abide by them. They'd rather point fingers at the rest of us.

I admit to being incredibly cynical about the California Legislature, but that doesn't mean I think the situation in Sacramento is hopeless.

If you're going to run for political office, you must have the "Uh-oh factor" built into your campaign strategy. Somewhere before election day, something will happen to stop candidates in their tracks, and they'll be uttering "Uh-oh" as they try to adjust to the unexpected development.

This is not a joke. There really are people in the California state government with common sense. I had to look quite awhile to find them, but then a little-known state commission surfaced to say that in this bad economy, it's no time to give the state legislature or governor a pay raise.

That's a no-brainer for most of us, but the political world often works upside down.