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Sep 11, 2008 6:45 pm US/Central
MN Rep. Packs Up At Capitol After 'Maverick' Move
(WCCO)
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Peterson is one of six Republican mavericks who broke with their party to override a governor's veto, passing a transportation funding bill including a gas tax hike.
CBS
This might be remembered as the 'Year of the Maverick' in American politics -- a label claimed by John McCain and Sarah Palin in the presidential race.
But what's good for some Republicans is apparently bad for others here in Minnesota.
In fact, it was politically fatal for one Bloomington representative.
Two days after losing his seat in a primary election, Neil Peterson's at the Capitol packing up. He was targeted by his own Republican Party because he's a political maverick.
"Who is an independent thinker, thinks for themselves, does what's right for public policy and moves on," Peterson said describing a maverick.
Peterson is one of six Republican mavericks who broke with their party to override a governor's veto, passing a transportation funding bill including a gas tax hike.
He said he'd do it again because of how bad the congestion is in his Bloomington district.
"And it's just not acceptable and the users, and those of us who use the roads, need to pay," said Peterson.
The irony for Peterson is the Republican presidential ticket and ads that show both John McCain and Sarah Palin as "the original mavericks," fighting their Republican party.
In the ad it says, "He battled republicans and reformed Washington. She battled Republicans and reformed Alaska."
For his maverick vote, Peterson and five others were stripped of their leadership privileges and punished by the party.
"If you are going to march with ... ducks, then you better walk like a duck. And some of us didn't want to do that," he said.
Now Peterson is packing up his stuff, including a wanted poster with his image that was distributed by a conservative anti-tax group.
He learned a lesson, but is leaving with his head high.
"I suspect any maverick that comes in here, sooner or later they get branded, and I was not about to let them tie me down and brand me," said Peterson.
Of the five other Republicans punished by their party, two are quitting the legislature, one is running as an independent and two are standing for election this fall.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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