Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits

Note 20. Pension Plans and Postretirement Benefits

Pension expense charged to operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 related to defined benefit pension plans included the following components (in thousands):

		For the Three Month						For the Six Month
		Period Ended June 30,						Period Ended June 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
Interest cost	$	3,382		$	2,722		$	5,993		$	5,443
Service cost		72			–			72			–
Expected return on plan assets		(2,606	)		(2,073	)		(4,532	)		(4,146	)
Actuarial loss		1,909			1,463			3,775			2,926
Net pension expense	$	2,757		$	2,112		$	5,308		$	4,223

We contributed $0.8 million to our defined benefit pension plans during the six month period ended June 30, 2013.

Several subsidiaries provide certain healthcare and other benefits to certain retired employees under plans which are currently unfunded. We pay the cost of postretirement benefits as they are incurred. Amounts charged to expense were not significant.