Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

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)	2018		2017		2016
Domestic	$	587,346	$	618,955	$	500,757
Foreign	32,927		21,423		(45,932		)
Total	$	620,273	$	640,378	$	454,825

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)	2018			2017			2016
Current expense (benefit):
Federal	$	80,360		$	162,639		$	120,634
State	13,663			14,301			11,252
Foreign	25,001			17,382			22,946
	119,024			194,322			154,832
Deferred expense (benefit):
Federal	34,636			(38,416		)	12,140
State	3,627			(2,436		)	2,515
Foreign	(4,896		)	(7,813		)	(3,013		)
	33,367			(48,665		)	11,642
Tax expense (benefit) relating to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest	3,915			5,084			(1,612		)
Income tax expense	$	156,306		$	150,741		$	164,862

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)	2018		2017		2016
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	21	%	35	%	35	%
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	2		2		2
Effect of foreign operations	—		(1	)	(1	)
Effect of rate changes on deferred taxes	(2	)	(11	)	—
Transition tax, net of foreign taxes deemed paid	—		2		—
Nontaxable income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1	)	(1	)	(1	)
Changes in the valuation allowance	3		—		5
Domestic production activity deduction	—		(3	)	(3	)
Tax expense relating to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest, net of deferred tax benefits	—		1		(1	)
Other	2		—		—
Effective income tax rate	25	%	24	%	36	%

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, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:



(In thousands)	December 31,
	2018			2017
Deferred Tax Asset (Liability)
Noncurrent
NOLs and tax credit carry forwards	$	123,487		$	69,771
Compensation and benefit plans	29,294			30,880
Allowance for doubtful accounts	981			370
Fixed assets and intangible assets	24,150			24,737
Interest rate swap contracts	—			1,893
Accrued interest expense	8,832			13,049
Other liabilities	24,594			12,562
Deferred tax asset	211,338			153,262
Valuation allowance	(95,185		)	(57,121		)
Net deferred tax asset, noncurrent	116,153			96,141
Prepaid liabilities	(514		)	(501		)
Fixed assets and intangible assets	(90,960		)	(61,127		)
Investments in partnerships	(121,156		)	(103,474		)
Other assets	(29,694		)	(20,657		)
Deferred tax liability, noncurrent	(242,324		)	(185,759		)
Total net deferred tax liability	$	(126,171	)	$	(89,618	)

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, 2017	$	21,797
Increases related to current year tax positions	4,038
Increases related to prior year tax positions	—
Decreases related to prior year tax positions	(1,085		)
Decreases due to settlements/payments	(1,581		)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	23,169