The D.C. Council wants to make it easier for the city government to hire ex-convicts.

A bill called the “Returning Citizen Employment Inclusion Act of 2010” would prohibit most District agencies from asking about the criminal records or histories of job applicants until after they’ve landed an interview. It’s sponsored by Ward 5 Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. With six other council members co-sponsoring the bill, including Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry, who has criminal convictions on his record, and Council Chairman-elect Kwame Brown, it already has enough support to pass.