INCOME TAXES (Note)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

	Three Months Ended   September 30,						Nine Months Ended   September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014
	(in thousands, except percentages)
Income tax (expense) benefit	$	(389	)	$	2		$	(968	)	$	86
Effective tax rate	5.0		%	0.4		%	4.8		%	3.2		%

Tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 is primarily comprised of the federal Alternative Minimum Tax and state taxes.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the effective tax rates varied from the statutory rate primarily due to the existence of a valuation allowance that has been provided to offset the Company's net deferred tax asset and state taxes.

Valuation Allowance

There has been no change to the Company's valuation allowance assessment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.