Chalk up another one for the Nerd.

    For a guy who knew very little about politics, Gov. Rick Snyder has cobbled together a very impressive record in his five short months in office capped off this week by passage of his budget centerpiece.

    It was not easy but when the dust settled, the new gov had a new flat rate business tax and a modified pension tax on some retirees and his reinvention Michigan train is rollin' right along.

    Last week the doubters in town figured there were too many Republicans who adhered to the old notion that they would oppose anything that even looked like a tax hike. Seven did.  But 19 of them somehow set that aside and gave Mr. Snyder a yes vote.  His Lt. Governor Brian Calley then delivered the 20^th vote for passage.

    Then within a couple of hours, 56 house Republicans followed suit and presto change-o the deed is done.

    While the governor deserves credit for pulling this off, it should be noted that he did it with GOP control of both houses.  Had he produced a goose egg, the boo-birds would have been all over him for being a lack-luster leader.  Instead it looks like he really does know what he is doing.

     Go back to last winter when the governor first proposed the politically incorrect pension scheme. His own team of more seasoned vets lectured the new guy in town that it would never pass.

     "It's the right thing to do," he repeated every time he was told to forget it.

      Mr. Snyder has shown he was right although every Democrat in town disagrees.  Doesn't matter.

      Are you getting ready to say, "I told ya so?" one wag asked the governor.

      "I would never say that," he smiled but in his head, he's certainly justified in thinking it.