michael lillis writes for "the hill. could you write that the average worker pays $4,000 toward employer-sponsored health care coverage. that is a jump of almost $500 over the last year. why such a big increase? guest: it is enormous and i think it takes people by surprise. what you are seeing is this a economy, the businesses being hit with this recession are trying to keep employees on without dropping their health benefits. what they are doing, the health costs are rising so quickly that they are shipping those costs to the workers rather than absorbing them themselves. you can say it is good news because it is allowing them to keep workers on with health benefits. you could also say it is bad news because that is if 40% hike over the year before. host: that is employer- sponsored plans of the employer is paying the bulk. the increase of $482 for you and your family. what about the self employed? guest: the same thing. you -- the premiums are hiking for everyone. that $4,000 figure is just what the employee is bringin

michael lillis is our guest.nd then george melloan will talk about the economy, consumer confidence in r

michael lillis is our guest. george melloan talks about consumer confidence. and anthony placido on the use of u.s. intelligence gathering. later religious leaders from the christian, muslim faith will talk about religious tolerance in the u.s. live coverage begins at 1:00 eastern. . >> is good to be in milwaukee. it is good to be here. i am almost home. [cheers and applause] i just hop on the '94 and i am home. [cheers and applause] its is good to be here on such a beautiful day. happy labor day, everybody. [cheers and applause] i want to say thank you to the milwaukee area labor council and all of my brothers and sisters in the afl-cio for inviting me to spend this day with you. [cheers and applause] this is a day that belongs to the working men and women of america. i want to acknowledge your president,g national presenc and a man who knows that a strong economy needs a strong labor movement. [cheers and applause] thank you to the president of the wisconsin afl-cio, the secretary of the treasure. [cheers and applause] happy birthday, sheila. [cheers and app