Governor Butch Otter stressed cooperation and motivation at a meeting with investment and banking leaders in Boise on Tuesday. He said public and private investment groups need to communicate better how to get money to businesses looking to grow in Idaho.

"Let's not be sitting around waiting for some silver bullet, because it's not there," Otter said. "We need all the ammunition we can get."

These remarks by Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little came at the end of the Governor's Finance Summit.

During the meeting Otter also reiterated his stance that raising taxes or finding funding for new programs this legislative session will be difficult. Otter and Little asked those in attendance what tax policy changes they'd like to see, but no firm plan was made.

House Democratic leader John Rusche of Boise attended the meeting and said he was happy with the discussion. "We have a job to do, and that's to help businesses in this state make jobs," Rusche said. "You hear so much about cuts... but the real issue is jobs."

Idaho Department of Commerce Director Don Dietrich and Department of Finance Director Gavin Gee sat on the main stage with Otter and Little. The forum was sponsored by the Commerce Department as part of the "Project 60" program.

Otter missed part of the Tuesday afternoon meeting so he could speak at a rally for the Boise State University football team.