Deseret News political editor Bob Bernick gives his opinion today on the on-going House ethics hearings into legislator misconduct. I'll save you the read: The Legislature might be too politicized to maintain its own ethical standards, says Bob.

Bernick, the highest profile political writer in the state, has a huge problem in even offering such lukewarm judgements — many lawmakers have denounced Bernick and the DNews' own ethics.

The complaints against Bernick for mixing fact and opinion climaxed last summer when he wrote a front-page article saying the Legislature likely would move to undercut the citizen referendum process. The story infuriated Senate leaders who said Bernick not only flat-out made it up, but was not even at the DNews editorial meeting at which the issue was discussed.

Using blogs, incensed lawmakers went as far as to demand the DNews produce the recording of the meeting to prove their point. The paper ignored the request and has never corrected or publicly acknowledged any error.

Lawmakers, especially the Web-wise Rep.-soon-to-be-Sen. Steve Urquhart, haven't forgotten. They made that painfully obvious to DNews Editor Joe Cannon by boycotting the paper's recent election questionnaire.

It's going to be an interesting Legislative session for an unrepentant Bernick.