MONTPELIER — After several incidents over the past two years in which multiple bills were killed by what some are calling excessive use of force, Penny LaRouge has been put on paid administrative leave for the foreseeable future. LaRouge has been employed by Governor Scott since shortly after his election in 2016 as a veto pen, and has faced public scrutiny ever since.
“Penny has my full support,” Governor Scott said at a press conference early Wednesday morning, “but my superiors have mandated that she be put on paid leave until further investigations can be completed.” Governor Scott has voiced his support for LaRouge in the past, even going so far as to say that some of the dead bills deserved to be vetoed.
“Honestly, I’m fine with it,” LaRouge told reporters after the announcement was made. “I’ve been working my ass off for two years, hardly a break at all, and I could use the time off. And Phil won’t tell you this, but it was either him or me going home this morning. They picked me, and that’s fine. Let him keep his job. See how much he likes it without me around to do his dirty work. I’ll be at my cabin in Colchester with some fireball and a couple of young pencils, if you know what I’m saying.”
LaRouge turned in her cap and ink after the decision was handed down by the people in charge. She left the Statehouse shortly thereafter and has not returned any calls from reporters since her departure.
