Income taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Income taxes	12. Income taxes For Continuing Operations the Company recognized a $20.3 million and $20.0 million provision for income tax which reflects an effective tax rate of 34% on pre-tax income and (296.1%) on a pre-tax loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Excluding the impact of discrete charges related to the U.S. Government resolutions, the effective tax rate on continuing operations for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 was 36.6% and 38.0%, respectively. The principal factors affecting the Company’s effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2012 were the tax benefit of discrete items related to the U.S. Government resolutions, the Company’s mix of earnings among various tax jurisdictions, state taxes and current period losses in certain jurisdictions for which the Company does not currently provide a tax benefit. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2011 was impacted by discrete charges related to U.S. Government inquiries, for which no tax benefit was recorded, the mix of earnings among tax jurisdictions, state taxes and current period losses in certain foreign jurisdictions for which the Company does not currently provide a tax benefit. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefit was $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company had approximately $0.5 million accrued for payment of interest and penalties as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The entire amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. As of September 30, 2012, the Company does not expect the amount of unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next twelve months. The Company files a consolidated income tax return in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in many state and foreign jurisdictions. The statute of limitations with respect to federal tax authorities is closed for years prior to December 31, 2009. The statute of limitations for the various state tax filings is closed in most instances for years prior to December 31, 2007. The statute of limitations with respect to the major foreign tax filing jurisdictions is closed for years prior to December 31, 2006.

Income taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

12. Income taxes

For Continuing Operations the Company recognized a $20.3 million and $20.0 million provision for income tax which reflects an effective tax rate of 34% on pre-tax income and (296.1%) on a pre-tax loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Excluding the impact of discrete charges related to the U.S. Government resolutions, the effective tax rate on continuing operations for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011 was 36.6% and 38.0%, respectively. The principal factors affecting the Company’s effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2012 were the tax benefit of discrete items related to the U.S. Government resolutions, the Company’s mix of earnings among various tax jurisdictions, state taxes and current period losses in certain jurisdictions for which the Company does not currently provide a tax benefit. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2011 was impacted by discrete charges related to U.S. Government inquiries, for which no tax benefit was recorded, the mix of earnings among tax jurisdictions, state taxes and current period losses in certain foreign jurisdictions for which the Company does not currently provide a tax benefit.

As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefit was $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company had approximately $0.5 million accrued for payment of interest and penalties as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The entire amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. As of September 30, 2012, the Company does not expect the amount of unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next twelve months.

The Company files a consolidated income tax return in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in many state and foreign jurisdictions. The statute of limitations with respect to federal tax authorities is closed for years prior to December 31, 2009. The statute of limitations for the various state tax filings is closed in most instances for years prior to December 31, 2007. The statute of limitations with respect to the major foreign tax filing jurisdictions is closed for years prior to December 31, 2006.