Income Tax Expense

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Income Tax Expense [Abstract]

Income Tax Expense

NOTE 11.  INCOME TAX EXPENSE

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2012	2011	2012	2011
Earnings before income taxes	$ 94.9	$ 81.4	$ 190.8	$ 180.2
Income tax expense	20.9	29.8	55.6	77.2
Effective tax rate	22.0%	36.6%	29.1%	42.8%

The effective tax rate for the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 was lower than the comparable periodsof2011, primarily due to a decrease in the valuation allowance relating to foreign tax credits as a result of tax planning that increased our ability to utilize these credits, partially offset by other items.  The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2012 was also lower than the first nine months of 2011due to the favorable tax impact from our mix of income from international operations. 

We do not expect to record any material changes during 2012 to unrecognized tax benefits that were claimed on tax returns covering tax years ending on or before December 31, 2011.

As of September 30, 2012 we consider foreign unremitted earnings to be permanently reinvested.