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'''Citizens for a Sound Economy''' (CSE) was a powerful industry-funded [[think tank]] that promoted deregulation, low taxes, and policies favorable to its corporate donors. When the group was still active, the consumer advocacy organization [[Public Citizen]] wrote, "While CSE purports to be a grassroots voice of consumers, it is, more accurately, a front group for corporate lobbying interests that refuses to reveal its funding sources."<ref name="public citizen">Public Citizen, "[http://www.citizen.org/documents/Citizens%20for%20a%20Sound%20Economy%20Report.pdf Corporate Shill Enterprise]," organizational Report, October 6, 2000, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

CSE was co-founded in part by [[David H. Koch]],<ref>Tom Hamburger, Kathleen Hennessey, and Neela Banerjee, [http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/06/nation/la-na-koch-brothers-20110206/2 Koch brothers now at heart of GOP power], ''Los Angeles Times'', February 6, 2011.</ref> was funded principally by the [[Koch brothers]] ($7.9 million between 1986 and 1993, according to the [[Center for Public Integrity]]),<ref>Cited in Jane Mayer, [http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all Covert Operations], ''The New Yorker'', August 30, 2010.</ref> and continued to maintain strong links with them during its existence.<ref name="post nonprofits"/> In 2003, an internal rift between CSE and its affiliated Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation (CSEF) led to a split in which CSEF was renamed as a separate organization, called [[Americans For Prosperity]].

In July 2004, CSE announced it was merging with [[Empower America]] to create [[FreedomWorks]].<ref>Citizens for a Sound Economy, "[http://web.archive.org/web/20040725031033/http://www.freedomworks.org/release.php Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) and Empower America Merge to Form FreedomWorks]," press release, July 25, 2004. Archived by Internet Wayback Machine, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

{{Main|FreedomWorks}}
{{Template:KochConnection}}

==Ties to the Koch Brothers==

CSE was co-founded in part by [[David H. Koch]],<ref>Tom Hamburger, Kathleen Hennessey, and Neela Banerjee, [http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/06/nation/la-na-koch-brothers-20110206/2 Koch brothers now at heart of GOP power], ''Los Angeles Times'', February 6, 2011.</ref> was funded principally by the [[Koch brothers]] ($7.9 million between 1986 and 1993, according to the [[Center for Public Integrity]]),<ref>Cited in Jane Mayer, [http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all Covert Operations], ''The New Yorker'', August 30, 2010.</ref> and continued to maintain strong links with them during its existence.<ref name="post nonprofits"/> After founding the [[Cato Institute]] and the [[Mercatus Center]], according to the ''New Yorker'', the Kochs had "concluded that think tanks alone were not enough to effect change. They needed a mechanism to deliver those ideas to the street, and to attract the public’s support."<ref name="mayer"/> CSE was founded to be a "sales force" for those ideas, as David Koch explained to the ''Weekly Standard''.<ref name="paranoid style"/>

[[Richard Fink]], the first president of CSE, had previously founded the [[Mercatus Center]], a think tank at George Mason University, with backing from the Kochs. Fink has also been on the boards of [[Koch Industries]], [[Freedom Partners]], and two of the [[Koch Family Foundations]].<ref name="fp board"/>

==Activities==

===Fighting for Corporate Donors' Interests===

In a 2000 story on CSE, the ''Washington Post'' described it as one of the think tanks that play an "often hidden role as a weapon in the modern corporate political arsenal. The groups provide analyses, TV advertising, polling and academic studies that add an air of authority to corporate arguments -- in many cases while maintaining the corporate donors' anonymity."<ref name="post nonprofits"/> While then-president Paul Beckner denied that CSE tailored its views to match those of financial backers, the ''Washington Post'' found that many of CSE's activities appeared to coincide with the interests of corporate donors.

A report by the nonprofit Public Citizen found that CSE's work often benefitted its donors:

:"For instance, more than $1 million in contributions from the tobacco giant Philip Morris came when CSE was opposing new cigarette taxes. Donations totaling $1.25 million from US West coincided with CSE's lobbying for phone deregulation that would let US West offer long-distance service. Florida's three biggest sugar companies contributed nearly $700,000 when CSE fought a federal plan to protect the Everglades by restricting sugar cane growing on several thousand acres of land."<ref name="public citizen"/>

===Laying Groundwork for the Tea Party===

In a 2013 study, researchers at the University of California-San Francisco found links between the Tea Party movement and "tobacco industry efforts to oppose smoking restrictions and tobacco taxes beginning in the 1980s," as reported by the university.<ref name="tea party tobacco">Elizabeth Fernandez, "[http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/02/13507/study-tea-party-organizations-have-ties-tobacco-industry-dating-back-1980s Study: Tea Party Organizations Have Ties To Tobacco Industry Dating Back To 1980s]," University of California-San Francisco, news release, February 8, 2013, accessed July 7, 2014.</ref>

"If you look at CSE, AFP and Freedom Works, you will see a number of the same key players, strategies and messages going back to the 1980s," said lead author Amanda Fallin, PhD, RN, also a CTCRE fellow. "The records indicate that the Tea Party has been shaped by the tobacco industry, and is not a spontaneous grassroots movement at all."<ref name="tea party tobacco"/>

===CSE Backed Nader to Split Vote in 2004===

While CSE generally backed conservative causes, in June 2004 it mobilized supporters in an attempt to place consumer activist [[Ralph Nader]] on the presidential ballot in Oregon. "We disagree with Ralph Nader's politics, but we'd love to see him make the ballot," Russ Walker, the Oregon director of CSE told Associated Press. CSE, along with other groups supporting incumbent President [[George W. Bush]], reportedly aimed to draw votes away from Democratic challenger John Kerry.<ref name="unlikely">Jeff Mapes, "[http://www.freedomworks.org/content/nader-getting-support-unlikely-voters Nader getting support from unlikely voters]," ''The Oregonian'', June 25, 2004, archived by FreedomWorks, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

In spring 2004, the Nader campaign was not able to gather the signatures necessary to be listed on the Oregon ballot.<ref>Jeff Mapes, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20040426053125/http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1081252995257210.xml Nader's 1,000 fail to show]," ''The Oregonian'', April 6, 2004, archived by Internet Wayback Machine, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

In late June the ''Oregonian'' reported that Lee Coleman, a member of the Oregon State Republican Central Committee, said that a message left on his answering machine urging his support for the Nader ballot had included a return number of the Bush-Cheney campaign office in Oregon. Spokesman for the Bush campaign, Steve Schmidt, told the ''Oregonian'' that no paid campaign staffers were making calls to help Nader but said that some volunteers may have made calls from the campaign's office. "The campaign certainly understands that when Republican volunteers see that there are Democrat volunteers trying to restrict the choice and keep Ralph Nader off the ballot, that they should work to expand choice," Schmidt said.<ref name="unlikely"/>

In July 2004, the Wisconsin chapter of CSE told the ''New York Times'' that "it was preparing to follow Oregon's example, by urging Republicans to sign petitions" when Nader's petition drive began in August.<ref>Michael Janofsky and Sarah Kershaw, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/01/politics/campaign/01NADE.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=818c139c59d8f5c4&hp&ex=1089864000 Odd Alliances Form to Get Nader on Ballot]," ''New York Times'', July 1, 2004.</ref>

Nader was on the ballot in 34 states in 2004, including Wisconsin but not Oregon.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/candidates/nader.ballot.html Ralph Nader], ''CNN'' candidates page, 2004 election, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> He received 411,304 votes (one percent) in the election.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/08/us/ralph-nader-fast-facts/ Nader Fast Facts], ''CNN'', page updated February 18, 2014, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

====FEC Complaint Against CSE====

On July 1, 2004, CNN reported that the Washington, D.C. advocacy group [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] (CREW) had filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission about the activities of the Oregon branch of Citizens for a Sound Economy and the [[Oregon Family Council]] with regard to the Nader 2004 campaign for president.<ref>Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "[http://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-filings/entry/crew-files-fec-complaint-against-citizens-for-a-sound-economy-oregon-family CREW Files FEC Complaint Against Citizens for a Sound Economy, Oregon Family Council, and Others]," organizational press release, June 30, 2004.</ref> The complaint argued that the use of phone banks to encourage conservatives to attend a Nader nominating convention was an illegal in-kind contribution to the Nader campaign.<ref name="bush allies">"[http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/30/bush.nader/ Group: Bush allies illegally helping Nader in Oregon]," ''CNN'', July 1, 2004.</ref>

Matt Kibbe, president of CSE at the time, "denied the the calls were coordinated with either the Bush or the Nader campaigns," according to ''CNN''.<ref name="bush allies"/>

==="Grassroots" Opposition to Health Care Reform (1990s)===

As reported by ''Rolling Stone'', CSE played a role in fighting health care reform during the Clinton administration, funded in part by tobacco giant [[Phillip Morris]]. Health care reform proposed by the Clinton administration was to be funded in part by taxes on tobacco. Memos archived in the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library "offer a detailed picture of the cigarette maker's [Philip Morris'] behind-the-scenes moves to defeat the Clinton health care reform in '94," according to ''Rolling Stone''.<ref name="rolling stone">Tim Dickinson, "[http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/echoes-of-philip-morris-and-hillarycare-20091001 Echoes of Philip Morris and Hillarycare]," ''Rolling Stone'', October 1, 2009.</ref> The memos include plans to pay CSE for a "grassroots" campaign aimed at Democrats in swing states:

:"The House Energy and Commerce Committee will be a key battleground over the Clinton health care plan, and we are giving $400,000 to Citizens For A Sound Economy -- a free market based grassroots organization -- to run a grassroots program aimed at 'swing' Democrats on the Committee.

:"We have also targeted the Democratic swing votes through third party groups, such as Citizens for a Sound Economy... As a result of the controversy emanating at the grassroots level, Subcommittee Chairman Waxman could not produce the votes to pass legislation out of his Subcommittee."<ref name="rolling stone"/>

===Opposition to Clinton Energy Tax (1990s)===

According to the ''New Yorker'', in the 1990s CSE "waged a successful assault on Clinton’s proposed BTU tax on energy, for instance, running advertisements, staging media events, and targeting opponents. And it mobilized anti-tax rallies outside the Capitol -- rallies that NPR described as "designed to strike fear into the hearts of wavering Democrats."<ref name="mayer"/>

===Campaigning for Bank Deregulation (1980s)===

In the aftermath of the Wall Street crash of 1987, CSE reportedly "launched the effort to repeal Glass-Steagall protections keeping banks from gambling in securities," according to ''The Nation''.<ref>Lisa Graves, "[http://www.thenation.com/article/161973/alec-exposed-koch-connection# ALEC Exposed: The Koch Connection]," ''The Nation'', July 12, 2011.</ref> The law, which according to the ''New York Times'' had been passed in 1933 to create a "firewall between commercial banks, which take deposits and make loans, and investment banks, which underwrite securities," was finally repealed under the Clinton administration in 1999. During the Clinton years, CSE's Richard Fink "was also a member of the Democratic Leadership Council, which heavily influenced some but not all of Bill Clinton's policies," according to Lisa Graves.<ref>Lisa Graves, "The Koch Cartel: Their Reach, Their Reactionary Agenda, and Their Record," ''The Progressive'', July/August 2014.</ref>

==History==

CSE was founded in 1984 by the [[Koch brothers]] along with [[Richard Fink]] and [[Matt Kibbe]]. Fink had previously headed the [[Mercatus Center]] at George Mason University, but according to the ''New Yorker'', the Kochs had "concluded that think tanks alone were not enough to effect change. They needed a mechanism to deliver those ideas to the street, and to attract the public’s support."<ref name="mayer">Jane Mayer, "[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all Covert Operations]," ''New Yorker'', August 30, 2010.</ref>

According to the ''Weekly Standard'', [[David Koch]] described CSE as "a sales force that participated in political campaigns or town hall meetings, in rallies, to communicate to the public at large much of the information that these think tanks were creating […] Almost like a door-to-door sales force that some of the cosmetics organizations have."<ref name="paranoid style">Matthew Continetti, "[http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/paranoid-style-liberal-politics_555525.html?page=3 The Paranoid Style in Liberal Politics]," ''Weekly Standard'', April 4, 2011.</ref>

The Kochs provided some $7.9 million in support to CSE between 1986 and 1993.<ref name="mayer"/>

In 1984 [[Charles G. Koch]], [[David H. Koch]], and [[J. P. Humphries]] asked [[Rich Fink]] to develop a concept for a new organization that could advocate free-market policies effectively in Washington. Fink (now executive vice president at [[Koch Industries]]) produced a 110-page business plan, and CSE, along with the CSE Foundation, started operations later that year. Fink became the first president. [[Koch Industries]] and the [[Koch Family Foundations]] continued to give substantial financial support to the CSE and the CSE Foundation throughout their organizational tenure.

In 1988, [[Jim Miller]], President Reagan's Director of the Office of Management and Budget, joined CSE's staff and board of directors.<ref>Hoover Institute, [http://www.hoover.org/fellows/james-c-miller-iii James C. Miller III], organization biography, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>  This helped raise the profile of CSE enormously.  Until then, it had campaigned mostly on tax issues (advocating a low, flat-rate tax), but now it started focusing on legal and regulatory issues, starting with a telecommunications and financial services.

In 1989, [[Wayne Gable]] succeeded Rich Fink as President.<ref>[http://www.c-span.org/person/?waynegable Wayne Gable], organization biography, ''C-SPAN'', accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> (Gable later served as Managing Director of Federal Affairs at [[Koch Industries]].)<ref name="fp board">Freedom Partners, [http://freedompartners.org/board-members/ Board Members], organizational website, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> That year, CSE Foundation rescued the [[Tax Foundation]] from financial trouble and restructured its management and board of directors.<ref>Albert B. Crenshaw, "[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1216390.html Research Group Buys Troubled Tax Foundation]," ''Washington Post'', archived on Highbeam.com, October 9, 1989, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

In 1991, Gable went on to become president of the [[Tax Foundation]],<ref name="fp board"/> and [[Paul Beckner]] took over as president.<ref>[http://www.c-span.org/person/?paulbeckner Paul Beckner], organizational biography, ''CSPAN'', accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> That year, CSE launched [[Citizens for Congressional Reform]], which went on to become [[U. S. Term Limit]].

In 1993, [[C. Boyden Gray]] became Chairman,<ref>[http://www.c-span.org/person/?cgray C. Boyden Gray], organizational biography, ''CSPAN'', accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> and CSE led a major press and public relations campaign to defeat the Clinton administration's 1993 proposal for an energy tax.<ref name="mayer"/> ''The Nation'' later reported, "While the Koch Foundations could not legally lobby against the tax, CSE rallied public opposition, especially in Oklahoma, where then-Senator David Boren agreed to help kill the tax.<ref>Robert Parry, "[https://web.archive.org/web/19970117123332/http://www.thenation.com/issue/960826/0826side.htm Sidebar: Petrodollar Scholars]," ''The Nation'', 1997, archived by Internet Wayback Machine, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

''See also '''[[Citizens for a Sound Economy/CSE huffs and puffs with Big Tobacco|CSE huffs and puffs with Big Tobacco]]''' and '''[[Citizens for a Sound Economy/Free market environmentalism?|"Free market environmentalism?"]]'''.''

{{Template:AntiEnvironmentalArchives}}

== Personnel ==
(as of July 2004)

===Board of Directors===

*[[C. Boyden Gray]], Co-Chairman
*[[Dick Armey]], Co-Chairman
*[[J. Clyde Ballard]], Director
*[[Jim Burnley]], Director
*[[Charles Hilton]], Director
*[[Bill Jaeger]]
*[[Matt Kibbe]]
*[[Thomas Knudsen]], Director
*[[David H. Padden]], Director 
*[[Richard Stephenson]], Director

===Former Directors ===

*[[James C. Miller III]]

===Other Personnel===

*[[Joel Bucher]]
*[[Wayne Gable]]
*[[Scott A. Hodge]]
*[[Karen Lotter/Hickey]]
*[[Lawrence A. Kudlow]], economic counsel
*[[Clyde Wayne Crews, Jr.]]
*[[Jeffrey A. Nesbit]], former head of communications<ref>{{cite web |year=1993 |publisher=New York Times |title="Tax's Demise Illustrates First Rule Of Lobbying: Work, Work, Work" |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/14/us/tax-s-demise-illustrates-first-rule-of-lobbying-work-work-work.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate=2009-09-22}}</ref>

== Funding ==

CSE -- which was a [[501(c)(4)]] tax-exempt organization -- had a related funding arm, the Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation (CSEF), which was a [[501(c)(3)]] tax-exempt organization. 

In 2002, CSE had revenues of $3,590,890 and expenses of $3,726,684, based on data provided by Public Citizen.<ref name="public citizen">Public Citizen, [http://www.stealthpacs.org/finance.cfm?Org_ID=162 CSE], Stealth PACs Project, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

===Donors===

The ''Washington Post'' reported in 2000 that, "although the Kochs and a stable of wealthy individuals and foundations have continued to provide a base of support, corporate contributions now constitute the bulk of CSE’s income, which has grown from $4 million in 1991 to $ 15.5 million in 1998."<ref name="post nonprofits">Dan Morgan, "[http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/global_warming/Dan-Morgan-Post-Story_1-29-00.pdf Think Tanks: Corporations’ Quiet Weapon; Nonprofits’ Studies, Lobbying Advance Big 
Business Causes]," ''Washington Post'', January 29, 2000, p. A01, archived by ucsusa, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> Corporate contributors mentioned by the ''Washington Post'' included:

*[[Exxon Corporation]]
*[[Phillip Morris]]
*US West Inc
*Hertz Corp
*[[DaimlerChrysler]]
*Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group
*Huizenga Holdings
*Association of American Railroads
*[[Microsoft]]
*[[General Electric]]
*Publix Super Markets
*Emerson Electric Co
*AlliedSignal Inc.
*[[Johnson & Johnson]]
*U.S. Sugar Corp
*Florida Crystals Corp.
*Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida

===Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation===

According to the annual report filed by the Foundation, the board members to CSE and CSEF were shared. (The 2002 return also notes three other organizations -- the Taxpayer Action League, the Tax Foundation, and Citizens for the Environment -- as related entities with the same board members. The Tax Foundation and [[Citizens for the Environment]] were, according to CSEF's IRS return, created during 1998.)

According to Media Transparency, between 1985 and 2002, CSEF received $16,928,712 in 108 separate grants from only twelve foundations:

*[[Castle Rock Foundation]]
*[[Earhart Foundation]]
*[[JM Foundation]]
*[[Koch Family Foundations]] (David H. Koch Foundation, Charles G. Koch Foundation, Claude R. Lambe Foundation)
*[[John M. Olin Foundation]], Inc.
*[[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]
*[[Philip M. McKenna Foundation, Inc.]]
*[[Scaife Foundations]] (Scaife Family, Sarah Mellon Scaife, Carthage)<ref name="csef grants">Media Transparency, [http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/info_on_any_recipient.php?recipientID=395 Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation], grants report, archived by Internet Wayback Machine, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

In 2002, CSEF gained $920,000 in grants from three of these foundations, accounting for a little under one-quarter of the organisation's revenue. The Claude R. Lambe Foundation gave most, contributing $700,000 for general operating costs, while the Scaife Foundation donated $175,000 and the John M. Olin Foundation $45,000.<ref name="csef grants"/>

Other CSE funders (not included in above funding total) have included:

*[[Archer Daniels Midland]]
*[[DaimlerChrysler]] ($25,000)
*[[Enron]]
*[[General Electric]]
*[[Koch Industries]]
*[[F.M. Kirby Foundation]]
*[[Altria Group|Philip Morris]] (>$1 million)
*[[U.S. West]] ($1 million)
*[[ExxonMobil]] ($75,000)
*[[Exxon]] ($175,000)
*[[Hertz]] ($25,000)
*[[Microsoft]] ($380,000)
*[[U.S. Sugar]] Corp. ($280,000)<ref name="public citizen"/>

== Affiliations ==

CSE was a member of [[Project Relief]], an  alliance of corporations, trade associations, think tanks and law firms formed in December 1994 to promote the regulatory reform components of the House Republican "Contract with America." It was a member of the [[Cooler Heads Coalition]], an industry-funded campaign sponsored by the [[National Consumer Coalition]] (an industry-funded [[front group]]) to spread skepticism about the science of global warming. It also belonged to the [[Health Benefits Coalition]], which lobbies on behalf of the healthcare industry and has spent millions of dollars opposing a Patients' Bill of Rights and other patient protection proposals.

CSE used the PR services of [[Smith & Harroff]], a political consulting and advertising agency.<ref>Smith & Harroff, [http://www.smithharroff.com/clients/corporations-associations-coalitions/ Corporations, Associations, and Coalitions], past clients, organizational website, accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>

Other organizations with which CSE collaborated include:
*[[Consumers for World Trade]]
*[[Competitive Enterprise Institute]]
*[[Council for Government Reform]] (formerly known as the National Center for Privatization)
*[[Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment]]

== Former Contact information ==

Organization no longer active.<br>
Citizens for a Sound Economy<br>
1523 16th Street, NW, 2nd Floor<br>
Washington, DC 20036<br>
Phone: (202) 783-3870<br>
Fax: (202) 232-8356<br>
Toll Free: 1-888-564-6273<br>
E-mail: cse@cse.org <br>
http://www.cse.org

==Articles and Resources==
===Related SourceWatch Articles===
{{Template:Koch Related SW Articles}}

===External Resources===

*"[http://www.ecosyn.us/adti/CSE_Organized_Crime.html Organized Crime Ring]" Killer Koch's Citizens for a Sound Economy, Dossier by Lion Kuntz

==== 1990s ==== 

* "[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/dtv34e00 Tobacco Strategy]" (internal company memorandum), Philip Morris, March 1994.
* "[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/xqk92e00 Notes for Jim (Re: Steve Parrish Presentation)]" (internal company memorandum), Philip Morris, December 1994.
* David Nicoli, "[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/eii57d00 Legal Analysis of January 1995 Activities]," memo to Kathleen Linehan,  January 26, 1995.
* Robert Parry, "[http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=33A6AF61.7CF0%40worldnet.att.net  Petrodollar Scholars]," ''The Nation'', August 26, 1996.

==== 2000 ==== 

* Philip Morris, "[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/bub47c00 Budget]", Bates No 2079041604, 2000 (approximate).
* Philip Morris, "[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/gqg76c00 Core allies], Bates No 2077285640, 2000 (approximate).
* Dan Morgan, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A46598-2000Jan28 "Think Tanks: Corporations' Quiet Weapon,"] ''Washington Post'', Jan. 29, 2000.
* [http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=91 A Brief History of Citizens for a Sound Economy], (part of "Attachment to CSE President Paul Beckner's Response to Remarks Made by Oracle CEO [[Larry Ellison]]"), news release, Citizens for a Sound Economy,  June 29, 2000.
* Center for Public Integrity, [http://www.publicintegrity.org/2000/02/09/3311/stealth-pacs-revealed Stealth PACs Revealed], organizational report, February 9, 2000.
*  Marianne Holt and Kathryn Wallace, [http://www.publicintegrity.org/2000/10/03/3265/here-are-groups-targeted-no-soft-money-pledge-new-york-race Here are the groups targeted by 'no-soft-money' pledge in New York race], Center for Public Integrity, October 3, 2000.

==== 2001 ====

* [http://www.cpac.org/CPACschedule2001.htm Annual conference schedule],  Conservative Political Action Committee 2001 conference.
* Jim Burns, "[http://www.cnsnews.com/dtSearch/dtisapi6.dll?cmd=getdoc&DocId=55841&Index=C%3a%5cInetpub%5cCns%5cmainsearch%5cEntireSite&HitCount=2&hits=79+7a+&SearchForm=C%3a%5cInetpub%5cCns%5cMainSearch%5cSearch%5fform%2ehtml Conservatives Must End Government Funding Of Non-Profits]," ''Conservative News Service'', February 15, 2001.
* Citizens for a Sound Economy, "[http://www.cse.org/informed/issues_template.php?issue_id=746 State Board of Education Did Their Homework]:Vote is Right Decision for Texas Schoolchildren, Media Release, November 19, 2001. 

==== 2002 ==== 

*Citizens for a Sound Economy, "[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/wvx12c00 letter to President George W. Bush]", Bates No 2085235064, January 31, 2002.
*Curtis Moore, "[http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200207/thinktank_printable.asp Rethinking the Think Tanks]," ''Sierra Magazine'', July/August 2002.

==== 2003 ==== 

*Shawn Zeller, "'Free Market' Crusaders," ''National Journal'', January 11, 2003: "Just two weeks into her tenure as president and CEO of the newly formed Americans for Prosperity, Nancy Pfotenhauer is brimming over with ideas and enthusiasm for her new mission. ... Pfotenhauer said that AFP -- the nonprofit advocacy group that recently replaced the CSE Foundation after Citizens for a Sound Economy and the CSE Foundation parted ways -- wants to 'change the way decisions are made [by state and local governments], particularly on spending."
*[http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=622 Statement by CSE Chairman, Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey]" (CSE news release), October 31, 2003: "A note of clarification following recent media reports: Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) has not launched a new advocacy group. A recent dispute between CSE and what is now called Americans for Prosperity resulted in a split between the two organizations."
*Steve Law, "Activist group brings money, draws concern", ''Statesman Journal''(Salem, Oregon), November 1, 2003.
*Diane Carman, "[http://www.tlpj.org/News_PDF/deverpost_111203.pdf  Textbooks held to bogus litmus tests]", ''Denver Post'', November 12, 2003.

==== 2004 ==== 

*Brad Cain, "Oregonians soundly defeat tax increase, triggering cuts to services", ''Associated Press'', February 4, 2004.
*Jeff Mapes, "[http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1081252995257210.xml Nader's 1,000 fail to show]", ''Oregonian'', April 6, 2004.
*Citizens for a Sound Economy, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens Against Government Waste, "[http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=840  National, State Forces Unite to End Courtroom Chaos;]Announce Launch of www.endlawsuitabuse.org Online Petition", Media Release, May 3, 2004.
*Brad Cain, "Conservatives seek to help Nader - and ultimately Bush", ''Associated Press'', June 24, 2004.
*"[http://www.mandatemedia.com/CSE.script.june24.2004.gif GOP helps Nader Get On Oregon Ballot]", ''Mandate Media'', June 24, 2004.
*Jeff Mapes, "[http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/108816503613780.xml Nader getting support from unlikely voters]: conservative groups hope to draw votes from Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry," ''Oregonian'', June 25, 2004.
*Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "[http://www.citizensforethics.org/activities/20040630/ CREW files FEC complaint against Citizens for  Sound Economy, The Oregon Family Council, Nader for President 2004 and Bush-Cheney '04: Prohibited in-kind corporate contributions at issue]", Media Release, June 30, 2004.
*Melanie Sloan, "[http://www.citizensforethics.org/activities/20040630/AmendedComplaint.pdf Amended Complaint]", Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, June 2004.
*Citizens for a Sound Economy, "[http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=863 Phone Script: Conservatives for Ralph Nader?]", Media Release, June 27, 2004. (This is a slightly different, later version of CSE's phone script for Nader.)
*"[http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/30/bush.nader/  Group: Bush allies illegally helping Nader in Oregon: Complaint filed with Federal Election Commission]", ''CNN'', July 1, 2004. 
*Michael Janofsky and Sarah Kershaw, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/01/politics/campaign/01NADE.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=818c139c59d8f5c4&hp&ex=1089864000 Odd Alliances Form to Get Nader on Ballot]", ''New York Times'', July 1, 2004.
*Citizens for a Sound Economy, "[http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=868 Left-Wing Attack Groups Target CSE: Liberal groups in panic over CSE strategy highlighting similarities between Kerry and Nader]", Media Release, July 2, 2004.
*Carla Marinucci, "[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/07/09/MNGQQ7J31K1.DTL GOP donors funding Nader/Bush supporters give independent's bid a financial lift]", ''San Francisco Chronicle'', July 9, 2004
*Carla Marinucci, "[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/07/10/MNG9J7JMDK1.DTL Nader defends GOP cash: Candidate says he's keeping money]", ''San Francisco Chronicle'', July 10, 2004.
*"[http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/info_on_any_recipient.php?395 Grant Data Matrix, Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation]," MediaTransparency.org, visited July 13, 2004.
*Citizens for a Sound Economy, "[http://www.cse.org/newsroom/press_template.php?press_id=876 Michigan CSE Turns Out Members for Nader Ballot Push]: State chapter sends email to members and activates phone tree on eve of deadline, Media Release, July 14, 2004.
* Kevin Bogardus, [http://www.publicintegrity.org/2004/07/15/5967/kochs-low-profile-belies-political-power Koch's low profile belies political power], Center for Public Integrity, July 15, 2004.
*"[http://www.freedomworks.org/release.php Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) and Empower America Merge to Form FreedomWorks]", Media Release, July 22, 2004.
==== 2007 ====
*Jonathan Weisman, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/22/AR2006072200683.html With Insurance Policy Comes Membership: Unbeknown to Some, Those Signing Up With Firm Are Joining Conservative Group]", ''Washington Post'', July 23, 2006.

===References===
<references/>

<tdo>resource_id=31064
resource_code=cse
search_term=Citizens for a Sound Economy</tdo>

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