Government investigators should pursue all leads to uncover the facts surrounding questionable bonuses and other practices within the Veterans Affairs Department.

As an Associated Press article revealed last weekend, "outside the Veterans Affairs Department, severely wounded veterans have faced financial hardship waiting for their first disability payment. Inside, money has been flowing in the form of $24 million in bonuses."

At all levels of government, when taxpayers' money is involved, none of that money should be used for bonuses.

While private business and industry have the right to reward employees with bonuses, based on their profits, that practice should not extend to government.

The AP reported that the VA inspector general had found that thousands of VA technology office employees had received the bonuses over a two-year period, some under questionable circumstances. And, if the bonuses weren't bad enough, the inspector general's scathing reports also detailed abuses ranging from nepotism to an inappropriate relationship between two VA employees — and some of the travel related to that relationship paid for with taxpayers' money.

President Barack Obama has said creating a seamless transition for records between the Pentagon and the VA could help eliminate a backlog that has left some veterans waiting months for a disability check.

In addition to achieving that goal, the president ought to do what's necessary to ensure that the abuses outlined in the inspector general's report are corrected and that policies are put in place to keep them from occurring again.

The Seven Fields Borough Council deserves residents' support in its goal of constructing a public safety building for the community.The council is using good judgment in its plan to establish a capital reserve fund for the proposed structure, which would house a fire engine from Adams Area Fire District as well as provide space for a substation for Cranberry Township police who provide protection for the community.Seven Fields has neither a fire department nor police department of its own. Those services are provided under contract by the Adams Fire District and Cranberry.Seven Fields officials are hoping to acquire state and/or federal money to help with the project, which could be completed within five years. Officials should seek the help of state and federal lawmakers in the search for that money.Borough officials should remain committed to the project.Tom Smith, borough manager, observed that the substation would be an asset for people beyond the borough's borders, because it would enable quicker response.For example, the closest fire station to Seven Fields is in Mars, and people living closer to Seven Fields than Mars, but outside of the actual Seven Fields borough limits, would benefit from a fire vehicle being stationed in Seven Fields.Regarding fire response, Smith said, "With the development that's taking place and will continue to take place in the area, it makes sense to have a fire truck down here with volunteers from around the area."Seven Fields' eye on the future merits praise — and residents' support.

Democrats in Massachusetts have only themselves to blame for the situation surrounding selection of a replacement for U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, who died Tuesday.In most states, a Senate vacancy is filled through an appointment by the governor. And that was the system that was in place in Massachusetts until 2004, when Sen. John Kerry was the Democratic candidate for president. Democrats in the state didn't want Republican Gov. Mitt Romney to appoint a replacement for Kerry, if Kerry won the election.To avoid having a Republican governor appoint a replacement for Kerry, Democrats in Massachusetts changed the rules. Since Democrats control the state legislature, they passed a law mandating a special election, to be held no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after a vacancy occurs.With the law changed, Democrats in Massachusetts accomplished their goal, avoiding the possibility of a Republican being appointed to the U.S. Senate by a Republican governor. But now, with the death of Kenney and a Democratic governor in place, that 2004 law doesn't suit Democrats in Massachusetts. The law passed by Democrats is inconvenient, and there has been some talk of finding a way around the law to fill Kennedy's seat.If Massachusetts Democrats had not changed the law in 2004, they would not be facing the current predicament.Democrats in Massachusetts should have to live with the law they passed in 2004. Maybe then they will think about another law, the law of unintended consequences.