Income Taxes (Unaudited)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

The company’s effective tax rate on earnings from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, was 33.1 percent and 34.6 percent, respectively. The company's lower effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2012 reflects deductions for current year domestic manufacturing and additional deductions from filing amended tax returns for certain open years which generated additional domestic manufacturing benefit, partially offset by the absence of research tax credits, which expired at the end of 2011.

The company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in federal and foreign income tax expense. The company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and in various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service is currently conducting an examination of the company’s tax returns for the years 2007 through 2009. Open tax years related to state and foreign jurisdictions remain subject to examination, but are not considered material.