Taxpayers pay for the creation of exclellent reports on public policy issues ranging from foreign affairs, to health care, to agriculture by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Members of the public can ask for these reports through their member of Congress, but they must first know that the report exists. Ask your Representative to co-sponsonsor H.Res 110, a bill introduced by Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Representative Leonard Lance (R-NJ), that would give the public access to widely distributed reports prepared by the CRS.
The Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrects.org) tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.