Portune "frustrated" at divide with DeWine

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune today reacted to the press conference Monday at which Commissioner Pat DeWine and other opponents of the jail tax voiced suggestions to "solve" the overcrowding problem.

Portune told the Enquirer's editorial board that he wishes DeWine would work with him and Commissioner David Pepper on the budget and jail overcrowding issue.

He's "frustrated" that the board continuest to be divided on how to fix the problem. But he blames DeWine. He says the Republican commissioner is blaming Pepper and Portune for not adopting his ideas, but his ideas aren't real solutions, Portune said.

"We're divided because what DeWine is suggesting either doesn't work or is against the law," Portune said. "Don't throw things out there that you know won't work and call them solutions."