Sen. Will Espero says Rep. Kymberly Pine is sending out “;blatant lies and false statements.”;

In an usually strong speech on the floor of the Senate yesterday, Espero (D, Ewa-Honouliuli-Ewa Beach) accused Pine (R, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) of “;a malicious lie.”;

At issue was what support Espero did or didn't give to resuscitate a bill permitting people to fly flags in planned communities.

“;To state that we killed the flag bill is a blatant lie by the state representative from Ewa Beach,”; Espero said.

Pine responded by saying she was “;disappointed”; in Espero's reaction.

“;I was merely speaking for the veterans,”; Pine said.

Wednesday evening Pine sent an e-mail to supporters of a bill to permit flags to be flown without restriction, saying that Espero and Rep. Angus McKelvey “;have no honor and have not kept their word to leaders of this movement.”;

“;They lied to you,”; Pine wrote.

In her e-mail Pine claimed that Espero and McKelvey (D, Olowalu-Kapalua), who were managing a conference committee on House Bill 2383, which would permit flying the Prisoner of War or Missing in Action flags at the state Capitol, could have included her flag bill, House Bill 2311.

“;In her moment of turmoil and confusion, some how Rep. Pine inserted the discussion and dialog on HB 2311 regarding flag poles in planned communities,”; Espero said.

He said the Senate did pass a resolution urging community associations to permit flying the American flag, but noted that an existing federal law already forbids restrictions on flying the flag.

“;When a member of this robust body intentionally lies to promote her own cause, I must step forward,”; Espero said. “;When a member manipulates an issue in order to get support from certain individuals I must speak up.”;

Pine argued that community association still force flag fliers to get a permit to display their flags and sometimes charge hundreds of dollars.

“;There are loopholes in the federal law,”; Pine said, adding that she thought Espero was “;treating the veterans like dirt.”;