Colorado's Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform is combing through an economic analysis of four proposals for changing how health care is delivered in the state.

Colorado's business community, the major health care payer, is closely watching the process.

Here's what a few business leaders had to say:

Pete Meersman, president and chief executive of the Colorado Restaurant Association. Colorado restaurants generate more than $8 billion of sales each year and employ 230,000 workers.

"One thing that's apparent is the money that's going to be needed to do this isn't just going to fall out of the sky.

"The question is how these proposals are going to be paid for, and we certainly would keep a close eye on any type of tax that would be on products that our customers buy from us.

"I think it's a little too early to tell what position we might take on any of these four. I've worked at the Capitol long enough to know that the bills that are introduced often look a lot different than the ones that are passed."

Bill Ray, spokesman for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has more than 3,000 member businesses.

"We haven't taken a position on any of the proposals, although we've certainly been keeping up to speed with the process. For us, there are three important things that are going to come up.

"First, the 208 (blue ribbon) process started with a mission of addressing access while at the same time doing something about the cost. For business, cost is the key issue.

"Second, who is going to pay for this solution? Where is the tax burden, or financial burden, going to lie?

"And thirdly, how is the legislature going to receive the plan that's eventually forwarded? And, as many people agree that it's likely the plan will have to go to a vote of the people, how will it hold up on the ballot?"

Kelly Esselman, head of the human resources services group at the Mountain States Employers Council. Esselman is one of 15 members of the Business Task Force, which is one of four advisory committees providing input to the blue ribbon commission.

"More than one of the plans have some form of sin tax, whether it's on alcohol or food with no nutritious value. Grand Junction is home to many wineries, Colorado as a state has a huge microbrewing industry and Ball Corp. creates cans for soda. One of the things we're looking at is the effect that the financing will have on our state's economy."