Research

Foreign Policy/Foreign Aid

Trump’s quagmire could lead to nation’s disaster – OP-ED by John D. Stempel, PhD, former member of the US Foreign Service and Senior Professor at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. Original was published in the Lexington Herald-Leader: http://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article145117919.html
Close Embassies, Buy More Ammo – By Amb. Patrick N. Theros, The National Herald, 3/15/2017
Open Letter to Senator Mitch McConnell – by John D. Stempel, PhD, former member of the US Foreign Service and Senior Professor at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce
Special Providence – by George C. Herring
Trump’s catastrophic failure to lead at the G-20 summit, Op-Ed by John D. Stempel, PhD, former member of the US Foreign Service and Senior Professor at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce
Trump unwisely destroying State Department in perilous times, Op-Ed by John D. Stempel, PhD, former member of the US Foreign Service and Senior Professor at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: U.S. Escalates Tensions with Iran and North Korea
Unpardonable: Americans can’t close their eyes, ears to revelations about Trump, Op-Ed by John D. Stempel, PhD, former member of the US Foreign Service and Senior Professor at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce

Healthcare

Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: ACA vs. AHCA Questions & Answers (3/16/17)
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Fact-checking Representative Andy Barr’s Lexington Town Hall Healthcare Comments
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Healthcare Comments by Andy Barr and Fact-checking Them
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: July Talking Points about Healthcare
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: AHCA/BCRA/ACA

Immigration

Indivisible: Response to Immigration Raids and Other Attacks Against Immigrants and Refugees
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Immigration Fact Checks (updated: 4/14/17)
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Terrorist Risk Threat
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: DACA – What is it, who are dreamers, what is their story and relevance to America?

Members of Congress

Andy Barr (6th Congressional District)
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Andy Barr – Campaign Donors
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Andy Barr – 2013-2016 Endorsement & Ratings from 44 Groups
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Andy Barr: Religion and Political Ideology
Team Research: Some of Andy Barr’s Most Egregrious Legislation in 2017
Team Research: Lies by Barr about the Tax Cuts – The Real Truth
Team Research: Andy Barr’s Record is not one of a True Bipartisan Legislator
Team Research: A “Republican War on Women”? Hard to Believe, But the “Facts” Say Yes
Team Research: Anti-worker and Anti-constituent Legislation
Team Research: Real Problems Require Real Solutions But Barr Gives Us Nonsense

James Comer (1st Congressional District)
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Comer Campaign Donors
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Comer Ratings & Endorsements
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Comer Voting Record

Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell, the man who broke America by Dana Milbank, Opinon Writer, The Washington Post, April 7, 2017.
Indivisible Bluegrass Research Team: Research Report for McConnell Office Visit – July 21, 2017

Dictionary of Code Words Used by Members of Congress
Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Code Words in GOP Rhetoric

Letters with Questions Sent to Members of Congress
Each month we conduct office visits and leave behind letters with questions. We ask that each Member of Congress respond to the questions within one month. If we receive answers, we will publish them. If we do not, we will publish the questions and note that we did not receive responses.

Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: Combined June Letters to MoCs – no responses
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: July Questions and Answers – Congressman Andy Barr
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: July Questions for Senator Rand Paul – No Response
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: July Questions for Senator Mitch McConnell – No Response
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: August Questions sent to Senator Rand Paul – No Response
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: August Questions and Answers – Senator Mitch McConnell
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: August Questions for Andy Barr – No Response
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: September Questions for Congressman Andy Barr
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: September Questions for Senator Mitch McConnell
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: September Questions for Senator Rand Paul
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: October Questions and Answers – Congressman Andy Barr
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: October Questions for Senator Mitch McConnell
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: October Questions for Senator Rand Paul
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: November Questions for Congressman Andy Barr
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: November Questions for Senator Mitch McConnell
Indivisible Bluegrass MoC Office Visit Team: November Questions for Senator Rand Paul
MoC Office Visit Team: December Questions for Congressman Andy Barr
MoC Office Visit Team: December Questions for Senator Mitch McConnell
MoC Office Visit Team: December Questions for Senator Rand Paul
MoC Office Visit Team: January Questions for Congressman Andy Barr
MoC Office Visit Team: January Questions for Senator Mitch McConnell

Protests

ACLU – Know Your Rights: Demonstrations and Protests in Kentucky

Trump

Indivisible Bluegrass Team Research: Trump, the Presidency, Tax Cuts, and Social Implications

Websites for Member of Congress Watchers

Votesmart.org – Provides free, unbiased, in-depth information about current officials, candidates, issues, legislation, and voting.
Congress.gov – The official site to track legislation and legislators.
Opensecrets.org – Your nonpartisan guide to money’s influence on U.S. elections and public policy. Whether you’re a voter, journalist, activist, student, or interested citizen, use this free site to shine the light on the government. Count cash and make a change.
Countable – An app that tells you in almost real time how your reps voted on specific bills.
Andy Barr’s website – https://barr.house.gov/
Rand Paul’s website – https://www.paul.senate.gov
Mitch McConnell’s website – https://mcconnell.senate.gov

Websites for Researchers

The Resistance Manual – A wiki page designed and researched by a large group of progressives in New York to help the rest of us gather info. Note there are Kentucky-specific facts.
The Pew Foundation – In depth, factual research on numerous policy topics.
FactCheck.org – A nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Their goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
Politifact.com – A project of the St. Petersburg Times to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters and editors from the Times fact-check statements by Members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists, and interest groups and rate them on our Truth-O-Meter.
Snopes.com – One of the best online resources that debunks urban legends and rumors on a huge number of topics. It’s run by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson, who established this website in 1995.

Amplify App

Want to make it easier to contact your Reps and tell them what you think? Try the new app developed by Indivisibles just for Indivisibles. Follow these instructions. Contact us with questions.

Use your phone to go to https://getamplify.org/install
Press ‘Create New Account’ to sign up, and enter an email address and password
Enter the indivisiblebluegrass invite code: 030-177-000
Take an action & cheer others on!

Education

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Financial