With growing clouds of concern over ethics and potential conflicts of interest spreading over our nation’s capital, it’s encouraging to see Washington state lawmakers and Attorney General Bob Ferguson introduce real reforms that would instill greater public confidence in government.

This week, Ferguson joined with state Sen. Reuven Carlyle, a Seattle Democrat, and state Rep. Mike Pellicciotti, a Democrat from Federal Way, to introduce proposed bills that would create a one-year “cooling off” period that would prevent high-ranking state officials from moving quickly from their government jobs to lobbying positions.

Ferguson notes that under current law, many state employees and officials can leave a state job and start work the following day as a lobbyist paid to influence former colleagues.

The proposed “revolving door” ethics law addresses a real problem. Supporters of the proposal point to the “D+” grade that Washington state received in 2015 for government accountability from the Center for Public Integrity.

The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization that uncovers cases of corruption and abuses of power, gave Washington an almost failing grade on its scorecard that examined our state’s rules governing disclosure, accountability and influence peddling.

While Washington state fared better in other areas reviewed by the center, the existence of the revolving door for state workers and lobbyists was labeled a “big ethical loophole.”

Some of our elected officials agree.

“I wouldn’t accept a D+ grade from my kids, and the people of Washington shouldn’t accept it from their government,” Ferguson said Thursday.

“I continue to believe it is unacceptable for a government official to conclude their public service on Friday and begin paid corporate lobbying on Monday,” Carlyle added.

The idea for a “cooling off” period isn’t new, or unique.

At least 31 states, as well as the federal government, require a “cooling off” period for those moving between the public and private sectors. And as far back as 1872, Congress has passed laws restricting former public officials and employees from lobbying.

As public confidence in our elected officials will certainly be strained as we enter strange and uncertain days in Washington, D.C. in the weeks to come, our Legislature would be well-advised to take action at home and close our “revolving door” loophole.