Income Tax Expense

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Income Tax Expense

Income Tax Expense

NOTE 12. INCOME TAX EXPENSE

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Earnings before income taxes	$	61.2		$	49.4		$	98.8		$	59.6
Income tax expense		23.3			22.6			47.4			52.2
Effective tax rate		38.1	%		45.7	%		48.0	%		87.6	%

The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2011 was lower than the comparable period of 2010 due to the partial release of state valuation allowances based on our projected ability to utilize the deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income.

The effective tax rate for the first six months of 2011 was lower than the first six months of 2010 due to the enactment of the healthcare reform legislation in March 2010. The release of the valuation allowance in the second quarter of 2011 offset an increase in the valuation allowance in the first quarter of 2011.

We do not expect to record any material changes during 2011 to unrecognized tax benefits that were claimed on tax returns covering tax years ending on or before December 31, 2010.