Michigan's Republican Governor, Rick Snyder, didn't just balance the budget. He's putting $130,000,000 into a rainy day fund. Maybe Obama, Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats should take notice.

Snyder inherited a Michigan economy that was bleeding money, jobs and residents thanks to eight years of Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm's "leadership". Michigan had led the nation into the recession and had one of the worst unemployment rates and housing declines in the country.

In his first year in office Snyder and his Republican-controlled House and Senate balanced a $1.5 billion deficit and added $255 million to the State's rainy day fund.

For his encore, in the second year he isn't just projecting another excess (bringing the rainy day fund total to $385 million), he's providing  funding increases for education, cities and roads while giving a 16% boost to the Michigan State Police. The budget includes extra funds for dental care for children, autism treatment, home heating for vulnerable people, the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks, and even an extra $3.6 million for arts and culture.

Not in the new budget are any tax increases on the wealthy or anybody else.

The Governor was criticized for cutting school funding by 2% in his first year budget. The  increase for schools in this budget is between 1% and 3%, depending on which numbers are used. Districts will be able to compete for about $190 million in additional funding for measuring growth in student achievement and for adopting best practices related to health insurance, school choice and other measures. The budget also provides school districts ongoing help with the cost of retiree health care.

Governor Snyder, the self-proclaimed One Tough Nerd, has resisted cries from the Left to spend the excesses on entitlement programs. As an extremely successful businessman he understands the need for a rainy day fund and is concerned about the State's borrowing power and bond rating. He knows from his experience in the real world that this is vital to the future success of the State and its ability to attract new businesses and jobs.

Increases in public safety, school funding, aid for children and the poor, infrastructure spending, environmental cleanup, energy subsidies, incentives for new business and job growth and still money left over for the arts and culture and a rainy day fund.

The Republicans in Michigan under Snyder's leadership are getting it done. Why can't Obama?