In the latest battle between the media trying to obtain public records and politicians seeking to deny them, the Associated Press has this story involving Hawaii state Senate President Ron Kouchi.

“A top Hawaii lawmaker is delaying a public records request because of a dispute that could hold up similar requests for years,” the AP writes. “The outcome will likely determine whether legislators can withhold emails, calendars and other information from the public, which watchdog groups see as crucial to government accountability.”

The matter began when the nonprofit Center for Food Safety asked for copies of communications “between several senators, representatives and the agriculture industry on pesticides and genetically engineered crops, sensitive topics in Hawaii.”

The requests were denied, so the group is appealing the case to the state Office of Information Practices.