EDITORIAL\Governors to the rescue.

LOOKING like cavalry riders, the governors of America's 50 states are coming to the rescue while the Republican-led Congress and the Democrat-held White House still are at loggerheads over budget issues.

The governors voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse a bipartisan package of reforms for Medicaid - a major part of the continuing federal budget impasse.

They also have developed a bipartisan plan of proposed reforms for welfare, which could solve another giant stumbling block for federal budget writers.

Leaders in both parties say the governors' recommendations have a decent chance of being accepted by both Congress and the White House.

Even now, the governors deserve congratulations for delivering something that Washington leaders were unable to produce - meaningful budget solutions that both sides can embrace (even though some governors, including California's Pete Wilson, do have some reservations).

And the breakthrough does raise the question of why governors were able to sit together, talk turkey and hammer out a solution, while Congress and the White House have failed in similar efforts.

Perhaps the governors have the advantage of coming from outside the capital's hothouse atmosphere, like a third party stepping in to arbitrate a dispute.

Or, perhaps the governors found solutions because as state leaders, they are one step closer to understanding the public's mind than national leaders are.