Note 12 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Future Premium Revenues For Financial Guaranty Contracts (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
First Quarter 2012
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	$ 394.4
Amortization of Unearned Premium	9.5
Accretion of premium receivable	0.3
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	9.8
Second Quarter 2012
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	385.5
Amortization of Unearned Premium	8.9
Accretion of premium receivable	0.3
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	9.2
Third Quarter 2012
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	376.8
Amortization of Unearned Premium	8.7
Accretion of premium receivable	0.3
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	9.0
Fourth Quarter 2012
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	368.3
Amortization of Unearned Premium	8.5
Accretion of premium receivable	0.3
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	8.8
2012
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	368.3
Amortization of Unearned Premium	35.6
Accretion of premium receivable	1.2
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	36.8
2013
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	333.1
Amortization of Unearned Premium	35.2
Accretion of premium receivable	0.9
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	36.1
2014
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	300.8
Amortization of Unearned Premium	32.3
Accretion of premium receivable	0.9
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	33.2
2015
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	271.9
Amortization of Unearned Premium	28.9
Accretion of premium receivable	0.8
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	29.7
2016
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	245.7
Amortization of Unearned Premium	26.2
Accretion of premium receivable	0.7
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	26.9
2012 - 2016
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	245.7
Amortization of Unearned Premium	158.2
Accretion of premium receivable	4.5
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	162.7
2017 - 2021
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	137.8
Amortization of Unearned Premium	107.9
Accretion of premium receivable	2.9
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	110.8
2022 - 2026
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	66.4
Amortization of Unearned Premium	71.4
Accretion of premium receivable	1.9
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	73.3
2027 - 2031
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	27.0
Amortization of Unearned Premium	39.4
Accretion of premium receivable	1.2
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	40.6
After 2031
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Unearned premiums	0
Amortization of Unearned Premium	27.0
Accretion of premium receivable	1.3
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	28.3
Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts Future Expected Premium Revenue to be Recognized [Member]
Future Premium Revenue To Be Recognized [Line Items]
Amortization of Unearned Premium	403.9
Accretion of premium receivable	11.8
Total Premium Revenue to be recognized	$ 415.7