Q:        Why is a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution needed?
A:        Congress can vote to abandon plans put in place for spending restraint and history proves that, too often, Congress either unravels budget controls or never adopts them in the first place.  A constitutional requirement for a balanced budget would compel members of Congress to act in a fiscally responsible way, since every member of Congress takes an oath to uphold the Constitution, and members tend to take the oath seriously.  A majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees constitutional issues, said this about a balanced budget amendment after passing one twice during the 1990s:  "Flagrant disregard of the proposed amendment's clear and simple provisions would constitute nothing less than a betrayal of the public trust.  In their campaigns for reelection, elected officials who flout their responsibilities under this amendment will find that the political process will provide the ultimate enforcement mechanism."

Q:        How would a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution be put in place?
A:        An amendment to the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the approval of three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures.  At least 46 states have requirements to balance their state budgets.  Congress has voted on a balanced budget amendment several times, but there never have been enough votes to approve the amendment and send it to the states for ratification.  Along with every other Republican senator, I am a co-sponsor of legislation that could establish a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.  The last time the Senate voted on a balanced budget amendment was in March 1997, when the nation's debt was less than half of what it is today.  The resolution failed by one vote.  A balanced budget amendment passed the House of Representatives in 1995.  Both the Senate and the House of Representatives must vote on a balanced budget amendment this year, sometime between October 1 and December 31, thanks to a requirement in the agreement that was reached to increase the federal debt ceiling.

Q:        How would the balanced budget amendment work?
A:        The legislation I've co-sponsored for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution would require the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually.  It would prohibit Congress from spending more than it takes in or spending more than 18 percent of gross domestic product, compared to the 24 percent that's being spent today.  In addition, the proposal I support would require supermajorities in the House and Senate to raise taxes.  With a federal debt of more than $14 trillion and deficits as far as the eye can see, it's time for Congress to act on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and then let states have their say.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Joe is survived by his wife, Tammy; children, Amelia, Rolando, Guadalupe and Julio, all of Davenport, and Cayetano, Rock Island; mother, Barbara, Davenport; siblings, John, Rolando, Lyle Peña, and Danny, all of Davenport, Christina Olsen, Rock Island, and Alicia, Des Moines.

Las Vegas, August 5, 2011/ GLOBENEWSWIRE -- Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ:ALGT) today reported preliminary passenger traffic results for July 2011.

Scheduled Service

                                            July 2011 July 2010 Change

Passengers                     639,789        601,401             5.2%

Revenue passenger miles (000)                    581,106        553,102             5.1%

Available seat miles (000)                          622,970        627,466          (0.7)%

Load factor                         93.3%           88.1%          5.2 pts

Departures                     4,657            4,704          (1.0)%

Average stage length (miles)                        886               890          (0.4)%

Total System*

                                                July 2011 July 2010 Change

Passengers                     672,727        629,689             6.8%

Revenue passenger miles (000)                    605,331        571,048             6.0%

Available seat miles (000)                          663,055        661,443             0.2%

Load factor                         91.3%           86.3%          5.0 pts

Departures                     5,206            5,149             1.1%

Average stage length (miles)                        847               861          (1.5)%                        

*Total system includes scheduled service, fixed fee contract and non-revenue flying.

Preliminary Financial Results

                                                                                          Change

June 2011 actual year-over-year

scheduled revenue per ASM (PRASM) change                                  24.7%

June 2011 actual year-over year

scheduled total revenue per ASM (TRASM) change                          18.9%

July 2011 estimated year-over-year PRASM change                     23.7 to 24.1%

July 2011 estimated year-over-year TRASM change                    19.8 to 20.2%

July 2011 estimated average fuel cost per gallon - system                       $3.17

July 2011 estimated average fuel cost per gallon - scheduled                 $3.34

Guidance

ASMs - Available seat miles

About the Company
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix-Mesa, Orlando, Fla., and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.  Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel-related services.  In 2010, Allegiant was ranked number one for low-cost carriers in Aviation Week's Top Performing Airline study and ranked 25 on FORTUNE magazine's Fastest-Growing Companies list.  ALGT/G

Note: This news release was accurate at the date of issuance. However, information contained in the release may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

For further information please visit the company's investor website: http://ir.allegiant.com

Reference to the Company's website above does not constitute incorporation of any of the information thereon into this news release.

Under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only estimates or predictions based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements include our statements regarding future departure and capacity growth. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "guidance", "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "project," "hope" or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements generally may be found in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Any forward-looking statements are based on information available to us today and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

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Army Veteran and Former Senior Staff Member for Gen. David H. Petraeus Erica Borggren Appointed Director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs

CHICAGO - August 5, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today appointed Erica Borggren as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. An Illinois native and Army Veteran, Borggren previously served as a senior staff member for Army Gen. David H. Petraeus. She replaces fellow Iraq war Veteran Dan Grant, who is leaving to pursue a post-graduate degree. Today's action is the latest in a series of appointments the Governor is making as he continues to fulfill his commitment to serving Illinois' Veterans.

"Time and again, Erica Borggren has shined in the armed forces," Governor Quinn said. "Her outstanding service makes her an excellent choice to lead the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs as it fulfills its mission to serve the brave men and women who have sacrificed for this country. I thank Dan Grant for his hard work and am confident this department will continue to excel in its achievements. "

Borggren served as a senior staffer and speechwriter for Gen. Petraeus during his time as Commanding General of multi-national forces in Iraq and as head of United States Central Command throughout the Middle East. For her service in these missions, Borggren was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Bronze Star as well as the Joint Service Achievement and Iraq Campaign Medals. She returned home to Illinois from the Middle East in 2009.

"I am deeply grateful to Governor Quinn for this opportunity to serve those who have served our country in uniform," Borggren said. "As a daughter of Illinois and a veteran who is committed to a life of public service, I am thrilled to have the chance to work with and for Illinois' Veteran community."

Prior to her time in the Middle East, Borggren served in the United States Army Medical Service Corps in Yongsan, South Korea, rising as an officer in the 18th Medical Command to a Company Commander at the 121 Combat Support Hospital, for which she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

Following her graduation as valedictorian from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, she was designated as a Rhodes Scholar and the recipient of a Truman Scholarship. She later earned a master's degree in comparative social policy from Oxford University. Borggren currently resides with her husband Erik, a West Point graduate and chaplain candidate in the Illinois National Guard, and their son Ethan in Chicago. 

Under Dan Grant's leadership, the Department of Veterans' Affairs spearheaded legislation to improve benefits for Veterans, including the Illinois Higher Education Veterans Act and the Illinois Educational Opportunity for Military Children Act. Grant was successful in significantly increasing census counts at the LaSalle and Manteno Veterans' Homes, and he helped clear the way for the Chicago Veterans' Home. Grant also administered more than $4 million in grants from Veterans Cash lottery ticket and was key to the establishment of Veterans courts across Illinois.

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