The latest stall in budget negotiations stems from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposing reforms to the state's welfare system. He wants reforms before signing any budget package. Democratic leaders say balance the budget first, then work on reforms.

Sorry, but when it comes to welfare, Arnold isn't one to talk.

Case in point: Carole Migden. The state is paying $335,000 to a motorist who ended up on the wrong end of Migden's infamous wild ride in May 2007.

Migden says she doesn't remember the incident, claiming she was medicated. At $335,000, I need to be medicated. Why spend taxpayer money on a settlement when the state could be doing something much more useful with it … like burning it, for example.

The state says it's paying because Migden was acting – quote – "within the scope of her state employment" as a legislator. What, like she ever did her job? If any of our lawmakers did their jobs, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in and the welfare system would've been reformed years ago, along with education, prisons, pensions and the rest.

There's more: In 2006, Migden sideswiped a bus, costing the state $5,027; the car she rear-ended in 2007 struck a third vehicle, costing the state $25,479 in property damage.

In response, voters threw her out. So what does the governor do? He appoints her to the Integrated Waste Management Board where now, instead of making $116,208 for doing nothing as a legislator, she makes $132,000 a year for meetings with the board twice a month, effectively making more to do even less. Talk about putting the waste in Waste Management.

Yet, despite twice ignoring the normal driving restrictions your average pizza delivery guy follows, Migden, as a member of the board, continues to drive a state car, all expenses paid.

Incidentally, last year, we paid $539,000 to repair cars damaged by lawmakers involved in accidents.

The right thing would be for Migden to pay the settlement out of her own pocket, but she can't do that. She needs the cash to make an offer on a house in San Francisco's Potrero Hill, which happens to be in the very district she hopes to run in for a city supervisor slot next year.

Actually, the right thing would've been for the governor never to appoint her to the waste board.

Yes, this is low-hanging fruit. Migden and the governor aren't the problem. They represent a larger problem. The fact that the only ousted incumbent in the last election who landed a cushy job on a useless board will now cost state taxpayers an additional $335,000 speaks volumes about what's wrong with California.

This kind of political patronage should be like a Willie Horton moment for California. Horton became a symbol of fear in a campaign ad that turned around the 1988 presidential election for George H.W. Bush. Granted, Carole Migden cracking up her SUV isn't the visual equivalent of Mike Dukakis driving a tank, but hers is a revolving door story that happens repeatedly in California. She screwed up on the job and kept it. Her mistakes cost money and she didn't pay it. Voters threw her out of public office and she's still a public servant.

The state is enabling irresponsible behavior. The governor is enabling irresponsible behavior. Our elected representatives are enabling irresponsible behavior. And by re-electing them, so are we.

The state's welfare system does indeed need massive reform, but let's start with the lawmakers.

Only three states give lawmakers cars to use. Most don't even provide gas cards. No state pays lawmakers a higher base salary, and many pay no per diem at all, let alone a tax-free one. Our lawmakers say they need these perks to do their jobs (what, like reform the welfare system?), yet they have no problem spending a king's ransom to get elected.

Here's an idea: Drop their base pay to $65,000. If they get the budget done on time, give them a $25,000 bonus. If they get the budget balanced, give them a $25,000 bonus. Get both done: $50,000 bonus. How's that for welfare reform? I guarantee we'll save money because they'll actually have to earn a living.

You see, that's the point. Carole Migden doesn't have to worry about getting a real job because the welfare state is right there to give her a handout. That's why lawmakers don't have to worry about earning a living like we do. And until lawmakers live the way we do, they won't solve the problems we have. It's a lesson they seem unwilling to learn – including you, governor – but it's a lesson we seem unable to teach because, like the lawmakers, we voters aren't very good at doing our jobs, either. Which is why I wouldn't be surprised at all if Carole Migden is elected to public office in San Francisco next year.

How many more Willie Horton moments do we need before voters finally get it?

Bruce Maiman is a former evening radio talk-show host for KFBK who lives in Rocklin.