Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) was a prominent conservative advocacy group founded in 1984 by Charles Koch (with David Koch also involved as a co-founder according to some sources). The organization focused on promoting free-market policies, limited government intervention, tax reductions, deregulation, and individual economic liberty. Ron Paul, a libertarian-leaning congressman and future presidential candidate, served as its first chairman, underscoring CSE's alignment with libertarian and conservative ideologies. Funded largely by the Koch brothers, CSE grew into a significant player in conservative politics, engaging in grassroots mobilization, lobbying efforts, and public campaigns to influence policy on issues such as Social Security reform, environmental deregulation, and opposition to government spending programs. During its two decades of operation, CSE operated as a nonprofit entity that combined elements of think tank research with activist organizing, collaborating with other conservative groups and shaping the Republican Party's economic agenda in the 1990s and early 2000s. The organization was known for its aggressive advocacy against excessive government regulation and taxation, often aligning with business interests. In 2004, CSE was dismantled and restructured to form two successor organizations: Americans for Prosperity (AFP), which focused on economic policy and grassroots activism, and FreedomWorks, which emphasized broader limited-government advocacy including social issues. This split allowed for more specialized efforts while continuing the Koch brothers' vision of advancing free-market principles.