Proposal would help small businesses get affordable coverage

A wide-ranging coalition of lawmakers and outside interest groups have unveiled a new proposal they said could kick-start efforts to address the healthcare crisis. The measure is aimed at helping small-business owners, farmers and other self-employed individuals. Proponents note that small-business employees and the self-employed account for a large chunk of the country's 47 million uninsured. Because they don't belong to large purchasing pools, which allow insurers to spread the risk, they often face much higher premiums.