Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income Taxes
Income tax expense differences from the amount computed by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate to income before income taxes (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Reasons for the difference of income tax expense
Computed expected tax expense	$ 66,941	$ 70,355	$ 77,293
Change in taxes resulting from:
Tax-exempt interest income	(3,682)	(2,813)	(1,937)
State tax, net of federal income taxes and tax credit	3,302	2,594	5,722
Tax refunds		(2,143)
Litigation expense		5,375
Other investment income	(3,083)	(3,172)	(3,526)
Other	600	761	436
Total income taxes	$ 64,078	$ 70,957	$ 77,988

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to nondeductible litigation expense under enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the current period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed attributable to other investment income.

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The domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate is the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems.

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The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.

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The sum of the differences between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to all deductions taken under enacted tax laws which were not recognized as expense under generally accepted accounting principles.

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The amount of income tax expense or benefit for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to income that is exempt from income taxes under enacted tax laws.

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