EDITORIAL\Waiting for reform\President has seen plenty of ideas for welfare reform - so why\doesn't he act?

President Clinton's promise to "end welfare as we know it" is becoming ever more dubious.

It's yet another example of how the president's actions speak a lot louder than his words.

Consider what he said during last month's State of the Union address: "I challenge this Congress to send me a bipartisan welfare reform (plan) that will really move people from welfare to work and do right by our children. I will sign it immediately."

Sounds good, but given the number of proposals he has failed to act on, we must wonder whether any reform plan will meet his specifications (whatever those specifications happen to be).

Let us summarize:

Major welfare changes were included in the original budget bill, which Clinton vetoed in December. He said that the reforms would be too tough on children.

Congress managed to pass a compromise bill on welfare late last year that would essentially cut spending and turn over most of the authority to the states. But Clinton vetoed the bill in early January, saying that the measure did not provide enough money for child care and job programs.

Last week the nation's governors came up with a bipartisan plan for revamping welfare. But Clinton again expressed reservations about preserving benefits for the poor.

Clinton has encouraged state welfare experiments by approving waivers for 35 states. But he has yet to issue waivers for the bulk of California's welfare reform plan.

State welfare officials are understandably frustrated about Clinton's inaction.

"We keep trying to hold his feet to the fire. We keep waiting for federal legislation or waivers and he keeps dragging his feet on both," said state Health and Welfare Agency spokeswoman Janice Ploeger-Glaab.

Clinton still hasn't come to terms with some basic truths about welfare reform: No matter which plan emerges, there inevitably will be big cuts in spending, and the states will have more autonomy over the program.

We thought he had acknowledged as much, considering his support for stricter work requirements and the toughest possible child-support rules.

But the true measure of leadership is not in expressing general support for this measure or that, but in working out a deal that eventually can be signed into law.

We're still waiting, Mr. President.