With Social Security facing an uncertain financial future, many people are looking to state and local employees who are now outside the program for a revenue boost. They fail, however, to account for the negative effects such forced participation in Social Security could have on government retirement systems, public services and tax rates.

For more information on mandatory coverage, see the materials below.

Obama on Record Opposing Mandatory Coverage President-elect one of 11 senators to sign letter opposing measure in 2005 (posted 12/16/08) . . . more GPO, WEP, Mandatory Coverage Update from Capitol Hill Hearing could be held on GPO/WEP reform bill this year; mandatory coverage could be considered financing option (posted 5/24/07) . . . more Mandatory Coverage Would Be Bad for Illinois Schools, Study Finds 10-Year Cost Put at $3.4 Billion (posted 4/30/07) . . . more Mandatory Coverage 'Conversations' Held on Capitol Hill Action needed by CPRS members (posted 3/8/07) . . . more CPRS Honors Calif., Mass. Congressmen Xavier Becerra and Richard Neal receive Soaring Eagle Awards (posted 2/13/07) . . . more New York Rep. Takes Over Social Security Panel Michael McNulty picked to chair House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee (posted 1/26/07) . . . more Maine Group Joins Coalition Association becomes coalition's 50th member (posted 1/23/07) . . . more Annual Meeting Scheduled for Feb. 7 Dinner to be held the night before (posted 1/19/07) . . . more Mandatory Coverage Proponent Takes Charge of CBO Peter Orszag once called mandatory coverage a 'no-brainer' (posted 1/18/07) . . . more Chance of Social Security Reform Increases, As Does Threat to Public Employees President Bush and congressional Democrats may find common ground in 2007; CPRS working to keep mandatory coverage out of possible compromise (posted 12/21/06) . . . more Mandatory Coverage Proponent Picked for Prominent Post Man who called measure a 'no-brainer' to head CBO (posted 12/15/06) . . . more Key Players in Mandatory Coverage Debate to Change Democratic takeover of Congress means new committee chairmen (posted 11/22/06) . . . more CPRS Executive Committee Meeting Scheduled Board members to gather in Alexandria, Va., on Nov. 30 (posted 10/20/06) . . . more CPRS Restructures Board Size increased from 11 to 15 members (posted 2/14/06) . . . more Coalition Schedules Annual Meeting Feb. 8 gathering to follow annual dinner on 7th (posted 1/5/06) . . . more CPRS Executive Committee Meeting Scheduled Amendments to bylaws to be considered at Nov. 30 meeting (posted 11/17/05) . . . more State, Local Retirement System Assets Near $2.5 Trillion Assets increased by $300 billion since 2004, according to U.S. Census Bureau (posted 10/5/05) . . . more Mandatory Social Security Coverage Concerns Raised GOP continues to send mixed signals on issue (posted 8/15/05) . . . more CPRS Warns House Staff About Mandatory Coverage Measure would be 'high cost with high risk,' coalition officials say (posted 7/18/05) . . . more Florida Plans Learn About Mandatory Coverage, CPRS Several local pensions in Sunshine State told of membership benefits (posted 6/30/05) . . . more House Briefing on Mandatory Coverage Scheduled Coalition to provide information to House staff on negative effects of forcing public employees to participate in Social Security (posted 6/30/05) . . . more Subcommittee Chairman Cools Talk on Mandatory Coverage McCrery expresses doubts about measure being included in Social Security reform bill (posted 6/29/05) . . . more 5-Year Cost of Mandatory Coverage Raised to $44 Billion Price tag nearly doubles 1999 estimate (posted 6/29/05) . . . more Mandatory Coverage Advocate Releases Study Report surveys arguments for and against measure (posted 6/28/05) . . . more Mandatory Coverage Would be 'Devastating,' CPRS Chair Tells Lawmakers Committee chairman signals possible support for forced coverage, though (posted 6/10/05) . . . more Colorado Senator Takes Stand Against Mandatory Coverage Measure could lead to lower retirement benefits, higher taxes, letter to Senate Finance Committee states (posted 5/31/05) . . . more Mandatory Coverage Would Be 'Devastating,' Senate Staff Told Coalition holds briefing in advance of congressional deliberations on Social Security reform (posted 5/27/05) . . . more Coalition to Brief U.S. Senate Staff on Mandatory Coverage; CPRS Members Asked for Help Coalition members urged to contact senators' offices and ask them to attend (posted 5/4/05) . . . more CPRS Ally Leaves Congress to Become U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman received Soaring Eagle Award in 2001 (posted 4/29/05) . . . more Two Groups Join Coalition Coalition membership up to 51 (posted 4/28/05) . . . more CPRS Chair Expresses 'Deep Concern' Regarding EBRI Study Institute urged to assess impact of mandatory coverage (posted 4/5/05) . . . more Matsui's Widow Takes Seat in Congress Late congressman was good friend of coalition (posted 3/21/05) . . . more State and Local Workers May be Targeted from All Sides White House, Democrats, non-partisan institute indicate possible or definite support for mandatory Social Security coverage for government employees (posted 3/8/05) . . . more California Senator Crafts Letter Opposing Mandatory Coverage Sen. Barbara Boxer asks Senate Finance Committee not to force Social Security coverage on state and local workers (posted 3/8/05) . . . more 11 Senators Sign Letter Opposing Mandatory Coverage Measure would 'starve public pension' plans, Finance Committee told (posted 3/4/05) . . . more Congressman Proposes Anti-Mandatory Coverage Resolution Non-binding measure urges that uncovered public employees be left out of Social Security reform legislation (posted 2/11/05) . . . more Mandatory Coverage Threat Still Looms, CPRS Members Told Not all the news at the coalition's annual meeting was bad, though (posted 2/10/05) . . . more Senators Organize Letter Opposing Mandatory Coverage Voinovich, Feinstein rallying senators to protect uncovered state, local employees (posted 2/10/05) . . . more AARP Gives Mixed Signals on Mandatory Coverage Official does not mention measure during testimony before senators but later says it is 'still on our agenda' (posted 2/4/05) . . . more Friend of Coalition Keeps Post in New Congress Recipient of CPRS' Excellence Award returning to job as majority staff director of House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee (posted 1/21/05) . . . more CPRS Annual Meeting Scheduled for Feb. 9 Meeting with Sen. Voinovich to follow gathering (posted 1/17/05) . . . more AARP Keeps Pressure on for Mandatory Coverage CEO of seniors group reiterates support for forcing newly-hired state and local workers to join Social Security (posted 1/13/05) . . . more Rep. Matsui Mourned by Coalition Ranking Democrat on House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee was an ardent defender of public employees' retirement security (posted 1/3/05) . . . more Coalition Officials Seek Detente with AARP Representatives of seniors group signal potential softening of pro-mandatory coverage position (posted 12/15/04) . . . more Ex-Official Endorses Mandatory Coverage Member of mid-1990s advisory panel pushes for forced participation of state and local workers as alternative to privatization (posted 11/23/04) . . . more

'Report on Universal Social Security Coverage of State and Local Workers' from The Segal Company Price tag of mandatory coverage put at $44 billion over first five years in July 2005 update of 1999 report . . . more 'Mandatory Social Security Coverage of State and Local Workers: A Perennial Hot Button' from Boston College Center for Retirement Research Report surveys arguments for and against requiring newly-hired public employees to participate in program . . . more May 16, 2005, Letter from Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., to Senate Finance Committee Allard urged the panel to reject mandatory coverage for state and local workers during its deliberations on Social Security reform . . . more April 4, 2005, Letter from CPRS to EBRI The coalition wrote to Employee Benefit Research Institute President Dallas Salisbury to respond to an EBRI study that concluded that mandatory coverage of all public employees would be an effective reform measure . . . more March 3, 2005, Letter from Sen. Barbara Boxer to Finance Committee Boxer asks panel to reject mandatory coverage . . . more March 2, 2005, Senators' Letter to Finance Committee Eleven senators urge panel not to support mandatory coverage . . . more Oct. 22, 2003, CPRS Letter to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa Coalition requests revisions to proposed legislation . . . more May 1, 2003, Testimony of CPRS Chairman Terri Harrison Coalition head outlines mandatory coverage costs to congressional panel . . . more Dec. 6, 2001, Senators' Letter to Social Security Commission Twenty senators ask panel to reject mandatory coverage . . . more Nov. 20, 2001, CPRS Statement to Social Security Commission Coalition tells panel why mandatory coverage is a bad idea . . . more Nov. 6, 2001, Public Pension Groups' Letter to Social Security Commission Twenty-three organizations express opposition to mandatory coverage . . . more Aug. 15, 2001, CPRS Letter to Social Security Commission Coalition asks panel to reject mandatory coverage . . . more July 23, 2001, Public Pension Groups' Letter to President Bush Twenty-three organizations express opposition to mandatory coverage . . . more May, 25, 2001, Senators' Letter to President Bush Eleven senators urge opposition to mandatory coverage . . . more 'The Cost Impact of Mandating Social Security for State and Local Governments' from The Segal Company Mandatory Social Security coverage for newly-hired public employees would cost state and local governments $26 billion over five years, report concludes . . . more April 30, 1999, Ohio Delegation Letter to President Clinton Nineteen members of state's delegation express opposition to mandatory coverage . . . more April 22, 1999, Senators' Letter to President Clinton Twelve senators urge opposition to mandatory coverage . . . more April 5, 1999, Colorado Delegation Letter to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert Five of the state's representatives express their opposition to mandatory coverage . . . more March 19, 1999, Letter from Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., to Louisiana Treasurer Congressman notes reluctance to support mandatory coverage . . . more March 16, 1999, Letter from Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La., to Louisiana Treasurer Congressman cites disinclination to support mandatory coverage . . . more Feb. 22, 1999, Governors' Letter to President Clinton Twelve governors, including George W. Bush, express their opposition to mandatory coverage . . . more June 19, 1998, Column by Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio Congressman explains opposition to mandatory coverage . . . more