Income Taxes (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

Income Taxes

Provision

The provision for income taxes from continuing operations is comprised of the following (in thousands):

	For the years ended December 31,
	2011		2010			2009
Current provision	$	48,384	$	(3,908	)	$	6,198
Deferred provision	62,909		22,952			90,658
Total income tax provision from continuing operations	$	111,293	$	19,044		$	96,856

Tax benefits related to the exercise of stock options and stock awards have been credited (debited) to paid-in capital in amounts of $5.0 million, $(1.2) million and $1.8 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Effective Income Tax Rate

The difference between the Company’s reported income tax expense from continuing operations and the federal income tax expense from continuing operations computed at the statutory rate of 35.0% is explained in the following table (in thousands):

	For the years ended December 31,
	2011					2010					2009
Federal income tax at the statutory rate	$	95,489		35.0	%	$	11,728		35.0	%	$	116,043		35.0	%
State, local and foreign income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	9,415			3.5		4,133			12.3		10,661			3.2
Reduction for tax positions settled, net of federal income tax benefit	(1,676		)	(0.6	)	(12,324		)	(36.8	)	(37,952		)	(11.4	)
Settlements	7,000			2.6		13,746			41.0		5,307			1.6
Other, net (including tax accrual adjustments)	1,065			0.3		1,761			5.3		2,797			0.8
Total income tax provision from continuing operations	$	111,293		40.8	%	$	19,044		56.8	%	$	96,856		29.2	%

Income tax payments/(refunds), net, amounted to$6.4 million, $23.6 million and$60.9 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2011			2010
Accounts receivable reserves	$	120,983		$	135,132
Net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards	79,765			83,283
Accrued liabilities	88,073			97,008
Pension obligations	1,136			29,274
Other	15,794			14,873
Gross deferred tax assets, before valuation allowances	305,751			359,570
Valuation allowances	(18,232		)	(18,418		)
Gross deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	$	287,519		$	341,152
Amortization of intangibles	$	568,849		$	532,133
Contingent convertible debentures interest	322,035			322,610
Fixed assets and depreciation methods	48,034			33,589
Subsidiary stock basis	12,203			12,240
Current and noncurrent assets	3,665			7,097
Other	18,146			54,708
Gross deferred tax liabilities	$	972,932		$	962,377

As of December 31, 2011, the Company has remaining deferred tax benefits related to its federal, state and foreign net operating losses totaling approximately $80 million ($32 million federal, $45 million state and $3 million foreign).  These NOLs will expire, in varying amounts, beginning in 2012 through 2031.  The potential future tax benefits of the NOLs have been offset by $(18.2) million of valuation allowance based on the Company’s analysis of the likelihood of generating sufficient taxable income in the various jurisdictions to utilize the benefits before expiration.

Uncertain Tax Positions

At January 1, 2011, the Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $18.0 million and ended the year with gross unrecognized tax benefits of $17.1 million.  A reconciliation of the beginning and ending of year amount of unrecognized tax benefit is as follows (in thousands):

	2011			2010			2009
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year	$	18,034		$	27,700		$	66,902
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	1,219			1,532			631
Additions for tax positions of prior years	5,212			3,100			1,062
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(492		)	(1,634		)	(2,405		)
Settlement reductions	(5,330		)	—			(2,042		)
Reductions for tax positions settled through the expirations of the statute of limitations	(1,552		)	(12,664		)	(36,448		)
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year	$	17,091		$	18,034		$	27,700

Included in the balance at December 31, 2011 are $10.7 million of unrecognized tax benefits, net of federal tax benefit, that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.  The liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits are carried in “Other noncurrent liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets because payment of cash is not anticipated within one year of the balance sheet date for any significant unrecognized amounts.  However, it is reasonably possible that $3.3 million, net of federal tax benefit, of unrecognized federal and state tax benefits will reverse within one year of the balance sheet date due to the expiration of statutes of limitations and settlement of the 2008 IRS audit.  The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expenses.  During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recognized approximately $(0.6) million in interest, net of federal tax benefit, and penalties.  The Company had approximately $3.1 million for the payment of interest, net of federal tax benefit, and penalties accrued at December 31, 2011.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions.  With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations by tax authorities for years before 2008, and state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations, by tax authorities for years before 2007. The Internal Revenue Service is currently examining the 2008 income tax returns and has proposed certain adjustments. The Company does not expect the adjustments to result in a material change to its financial position. The Internal Revenue Service has notified the Company that it intends to examine the 2009 and 2010 income tax returns beginning during the first quarter of 2012. The Company is also currently under examination by various state jurisdictions.