Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes consists of the following components:



(In thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2017		2016			2015
Domestic	$	618,955	$	500,757		$	566,444
Foreign	21,423		(45,932		)	16,350
Total	$	640,378	$	454,825		$	582,794

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Income tax expense attributable to continuing operations consists of the following components:



(In thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2015
Current expense (benefit):
Federal	$	162,639		$	120,634		$	146,915
State	14,301			11,252			15,713
Foreign	17,382			22,946			14,508
	194,322			154,832			177,136
Deferred expense (benefit):
Federal	(38,416		)	12,140			12,563
State	(2,436		)	2,515			1,300
Foreign	(7,813		)	(3,013		)	5,753
	(48,665		)	11,642			19,616
Tax expense (benefit) relating to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest	5,084			(1,612		)	4,338
Income tax expense	$	150,741		$	164,862		$	201,090

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate is as follows:



(In thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2015
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35	%	35	%	35	%
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	2		2		2
Effect of foreign operations	(1	)	(1	)	(2	)
Effect of rate changes on deferred taxes	(11	)	—		—
Transition tax, net of foreign taxes deemed paid	2		—		—
Nontaxable income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1	)	(1	)	(1	)
Changes in the valuation allowance	—		5		1
Domestic production activity deduction	(3	)	(3	)	(3	)
Tax expense relating to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest, net of deferred tax benefits	1		(1	)	1
Other	—		—		1
Effective income tax rate	24	%	36	%	34	%

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant components of deferred tax assets or liabilities at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:



(In thousands)	December 31,
	2017			2016
Deferred Tax Asset (Liability)
Noncurrent
NOLs and tax credit carry forwards	$	69,771		$	82,636
Compensation and benefit plans	30,880			49,710
Allowance for doubtful accounts	370			421
Fixed assets and intangible assets	24,737			46,595
Interest rate swap contracts	1,893			2,884
Accrued interest expense	13,049			11,567
Other liabilities	12,562			20,811
Deferred tax asset	153,262			214,624
Valuation allowance	(57,121		)	(71,563		)
Net deferred tax asset, noncurrent	96,141			143,061
Prepaid liabilities	(501		)	(819		)
Fixed assets and intangible assets	(61,127		)	(78,616		)
Investments in partnerships	(103,474		)	(177,376		)
Other assets	(20,657		)	(23,444		)
Deferred tax liability, noncurrent	(185,759		)	(280,255		)
Total net deferred tax liability	$	(89,618	)	$	(137,194	)

Schedule Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reconciliation

A reconciliation of the beginning to ending amount of the liability for uncertain tax positions (excluding related accrued interest and deferred tax benefit) is as follows:



(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	18,065
Increases related to current year tax positions	5,154
Increases related to prior year tax positions	293
Decreases related to prior year tax positions	(1,595		)
Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations	(120		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	21,797