Here it is, 1998 in 550 words. Note: Liberals or friends of big government and wasteful spending should take two Tums before reading.

January. CTF releases a report entitled: MP Compensation Reform, Proposals to Ensure Honourable Salaries. Once again we articulate the principles of fairness, simplicity, transparency and accountability to guide any review of MP pay. From eliminating gold-plated pensions to scrapping tax-free allowances, our proposals are sound and fair.

February. Blais commission on MP pay says NO to MP pay hikes. We also rain on Paul Martin's parade by pointing out that the tax relief in the budget is illusory and phased in over two years.

March was a quiet month as we sharpened our pencils for April.

And what an April it was. A CTF survey embarrasses MPs as it reveals that 81% of them don't do their own taxes. The main reason: "it's too complicated." The Income Tax Act is over 1,400 pages long and contains more words than the Bible. Memo to MPs: Stop whining about our tax system and fix it!

We also reveal that Industry Canada has doled out more than $11 billion in corporate welfare (grants & loans to business) in the past 16 years. The feds are good at handing out the bucks but collecting them is another story. Only 15% of over $4 billion in outstanding loans has been repaid.

May was junket month. The PM and almost two dozen MPs and Senators of Italian origin (all Liberals of course) jetted off to Italy (aka "the Tortelinni Trade Tour") on a sight-seeing and trade junket. Post-trip reports indicate that a record amount of sightseeing was done. We're still waiting for the trade report.

June. MPs ignore Blais report and give themselves a raise. Most hop flights out of Ottawa the very next day. The CTF releases Volume 2 of corporate welfare which shows that Ottawa continues to dole out money to companies that are "willfully negligent, non-compliant" and show a "blatant disregard" for their repayment obligations. On a brighter note, the CTF hosted the World Taxpayers Conference with delegates from five continents. Tax Freedom Day was June 27.

Summer 1998 saw the CTF turn up the heat with radio ads focussing on 48 MPs eligible to opt back into the MP pension plan. 34 Reformers stayed out. But four Reformers snort their way back to the pension trough. Two grits and one Bloc MP also stay out, but 7 others (4 Libs and 3 Bloc) did not disclose their intentions.

September. "Parliament Hill construction will cost taxpayers at least $1 billion," says CTF. Public Works officials scoff at our numbers. (Note: December -- Auditor General estimates hill construction at $1.4 billion.)

October. CTF research reveals that 801 candidates from the `97 election pocketed $16.5 million in taxpayer financed reimbursements: 20 grand for each candidate. Memo to Andy Scott: Selective memory loss can derail a political career.

November. CTF pre-budget submission shows that Canadians will actually pay more taxes in 1998 when bracket creep and CPP premium increases are factored in.

CTF launches national CUT TAXES NOW! campaign with billboards in nine Canadian cities demanding $10 billion in tax relief. A week later, we're back at the committee blasting the feds super tax agency legislation.

December. The CTF leads the way in denouncing the Mills report and subsidies for pro sports teams. The CTF is also the first organization to show that $60 dollar EI premium cuts are dwarfed by $120 CPP increases. Merry Christmas, CTF also blows whistle on Sheila Copps' tape tax. Memo to the political establishment: We'll be back in 1999 - fighting for taxpayer emancipation!