BURLEY - Cassia and Minidoka County commissioners Monday hired a consulting firm to assist in the procurement of a federal prison in southeast Cassia County that would partner with U.S. Geothermal Inc., the geothermal plant.

The consulting firm, New West Strategies, founded by former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig and Michael O. Ware, would assist Cassia County in the first phase of landing a $300 million medium-security prison.

The contract approved Monday calls for a monthly fee of $5,000, and commissioners also set aside a monthly travel budget of up to $500 for the effort.

Cassia County Admin-istrator Kerry McMurray said in a phone interview Monday the city of Burley has agreed to chip in an undisclosed amount toward the consulting bill, while Cassia and Minidoka counties will split the remainder. McMurray said other cities may also join in the agreement.

McMurray said the issue of whether or not Craig would be breaking a ban on lobbying by a former senator for two years after leaving office has already been discussed by county officials.

"My understanding is that they have designed it (Craig's consulting firm) to avoid any problems and to be in compliance with the law," McMurray said.

Steve Carpinelli, media manager at the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C., said neither Craig nor his senior Senate staffers can lobby any member of Congress or any congressional staff member until January, 2011.

Employees of Craig's firm, however, are free to lobby Congress now.

"Lobbying is all about advocating for a particular client," Carpinelli said. "As of 2008, senators are prohibited from lobbying Congress for two years; former House members for one year. They're pretty strict about it. Former members are prohibited from lobbying efforts by e-mail, phone or any contact influencing policy."

The ban does not include communication with the Federal Bureau of Prisons or Cassia County.

"They (former senators) can lobby before any other entity in those two years," Carpinelli said.

Cassia County commissioners met Monday with Winston Inouye, a lobbyist and consultant for Idaho Policy Advisors, LLC who is retained by the Mini-Cassia Commerce Authority as a consultant on economic development issues. He will act as a liaison between the counties and Craig's firm, New West Strategies.

Inouye said it will be about 18 months before the county knows if it was chosen, and another four and a half to five years to build the facility.

"I say 'yes,'" said Cassia County Commissioner Dennis Crane. "Let's get it going."

Cassia County Commissioner Clay Handy noted that because the prison would be a federal facility there would be no property tax incentive for the county.

"Basically Cassia County would be carrying the ball for the whole community," Handy said. "And the benefit would be jobs."

Times-News staff writer Damon Hunzeker contributed to this report. Laurie Welch may be reached at lwelch@magicvalley.com or 208-677-8767.