Paying the price? The Taxpayers League of Minnesota is taking bows for knocking out four of the six Republican legislators who voted to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of a transportation bill that included a gasoline-tax increase.

Ending the legislative career of Rep. Neil Peterson on primary night was the latest "success,'' according to Phil Krinkie, president of the League.

Peterson first lost the Republican Party's endorsement and then, on Tuesday, was defeated by party endorsee Jan Schneider. In the wake of his defeat, Peterson didn't mention the Taxpayers League. He said it was the Republican Party that targeted him.

He noted that Schneider expended few resources during her campaign. Instead, it was the state party that was doing all the heavy lifting, sending out a number of fliers supporting Schneider.

"No good deed goes unpunished,'' said Peterson of his vote to override.

The scoreboard to date: Two of the Republican "Override Six," Kathy Tingelstad of Andover and Bud Heidegerken of Freeport, retired following the session. Edina's Ron Erhardt is running as an independent. Rod Hamilton of Mountain Lake received party endorsement. Anoka's Jim Abeler defeated Don Huizenga Tuesday night in a primary race in which neither was endorsed. And then, of course, there was Peterson.

"I've been doing this a long time,'' Peterson said. "You keep doing this until they blow you out.''

The Taxpayers League was doing some trash talking in the wake of the primary.

"It is interesting that many legislators were so proud of the $6.6 billion in tax increases that the legislature passed during this legislative session,'' Phil Krinkie, the League's president said in a statement. "Now, come election time, a whole lot of tax-and-spend legislators are worried about their records and we will be reminding voters every day until Nov. 4 how their legislator votes.''