Note 8 - Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Notes Tables

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

(in thousands)	Current		Deferred			Total
Year Ended December 31, 2015
U.S. Federal	$	60,201	$	(12,163	)	$	48,038
State and Local		7,468		881			8,349
	$	67,669	$	(11,282	)	$	56,387
Year Ended December 31, 2014
U.S. Federal	$	73,636	$	4,143		$	77,779
State and Local		12,788		133			12,921
	$	86,424	$	4,276		$	90,700
Year Ended December 31, 2013
U.S. Federal	$	57,476	$	(1,331	)	$	56,145
State and Local		4,969		(1,314	)		3,655
	$	62,445	$	(2,645	)	$	59,800

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31 ,
(in thousands)	2015		2014			2013
U.S. Federal taxes at statutory rate	$	50,897	$	83,303		$	57,509
State and local taxes, net of U.S. Federal tax		5,427		8,399			2,365
Other, net		63		(1,002	)		(74	)
Provision for Income Taxes	$	56,387	$	90,700		$	59,800

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

	As of December 31 ,
(in thousands)	2015		2014
Other benefit obligations	$	9,396	$	8,305
Equity-based compensation		1,868		-
Accounts receivable		327		236
Other		839		688
Deferred Tax Assets, Net		12,430		9,229
Property, plant and equipment		122,789		134,729
Goodwill and other intangible assets		166,268		164,591
Deferred Tax Liabilities		289,057		299,320
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities, Net	$	276,627	$	290,091