Income Tax Expense Level 1 (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

INCOME TAX EXPENSE [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

The effective tax rates for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were 24.3% and 26.7%, respectively.  The effective tax rates for the year-to-date 2012 and 2011 were 24.6% and 20.5%, respectively.  

Included in the six months ended June 30, 2011 is the reversal of $10.4 million in tax liabilities provided over the period of 2007-2010 as a result of audits of prior year returns offset by $3.7 million in other discrete items. The change in income tax expense also reflects the change in activity levels among jurisdictions with different tax rates.