As I predicted, late Friday the word broke that the OIG has completed its investigation and presented its findings to Chuck Rosenthal. (Edit: but not released the report publicly.) The news broke at 9:34 P.M. on KHOU. Well after the news cycle, and at a time when everyone with a life (that excludes me) is paying no attention at all to the news.

Sources close to the investigation said the report involving the mayor pro-tem’s office put together by the office of Inspector General is now complete and is in the hands of the Harris County District Attorney’s office. It’s been recommended that the report be taken to a grand jury.

Oh yes, lets make a show of justice being done.

11 News has been told that all four employees’ names were in the report, along with Councilmember Alvarado.

However, sources said that no wrong-doing was found to have occurred by Alvarado.

Yet another total non-surprise.

Her name was included because she is the mayor pro-tem and the report suggests here should have been more checks and balances to keep the unauthorized bonuses from going through.

Ok boys and girls, repeat after me:

Total.
Ass.
Covering.
White.
Wash.

Thank you, that concludes todays civics lesson.

Alvarado released this statement to 11 News Friday night: “For the Mayor and City Council it is important to determine how we can recover the money that has been stolen from taxpayers and that we implement the reforms necessary to ensure that this never happens again. I have already discussed some reforms ideas with the Mayor and intend to continue those discussions in the days to come.”

You know, it’s bad when you can predict things like this without even trying. We have come to expect our government officials to be incompetent, inept, and in cahoots, but the sheer chutzpah of so predictably releasing this report after hours on Friday afternoon and insuring that it gives Alvarado all possible cover is beyond the pale. It’s cynical, it’s manipulative, it’s a blatant case of “no shame in their game.” And the citizens of this fine city will, in all liklihood, roll over and accept it again. As long as a few city employees are sacrificed on the altar of justice, who cares if everything else gets swept under the rug?

What happened to the inquiry from the controller’s office into these bonuses; the one that someone in F&A fielded? What is the deal with the fifth employee in that office, the one transferred in from F&A to address the “budget irregularities,” yet seemed to have no clue that they were plain theft? Why has the city failed to answer any TPIA requests that might make Mayor pro tem Alvarado look bad, but instantly answered anything that made her look innocent?

In short, this entire mess is being swept under the rug, and Mayor White is trying to salvage his own reputation, and possibly Ms. Alvarado’s political career. One wonders why he would make this effort; as late as yetserday, rumors were swirling that he was polling the other council members about replacing her. Is that still on the table?

Mayor Bill White spoke with some City Council members Friday to feel them out about who should be mayor pro tem if Councilwoman Carol Alvarado relinquishes the post amid a payroll-padding scandal.

(snip)

White has offered cautious support for Alvarado, whom he appointed mayor pro tem when he took office in 2004.

On Friday, he said they are close colleagues and worked on several issues over the years.

White’s position on the other people involved in the scandal was clear.

“I’d like to get anybody associated with an improper payment terminated,” he said. “They should not be on the city payroll.”

A whitewash report, four city employees sacrificed, and CM Alvarado “accepting” responsibility and resigning as Mayor pro tem, while maintaining that she was just a poor dupe (and hoping everyone forgets about this by 2007) sounds about right for the gameplan.

And on that note, I’ll make one final prediction: As long as Houston citizens continue to put up with this sort of government, it will never get better.