< 25 Top Pension Power Players

In 2015, Republican Bruce Rauner, former chairman of private equity firm GTCR, was elected governor of Illinois — which has one of the most underfunded state government pension systems in the country — on a promise to bring fiscal stability. Illinois has since become ground zero for pension reform. In December, Rauner, who has a history of antiunion positions, vetoed a bill that would have provided $215 million for pensions for Chicago public school teachers; he said any bailout needed to be tied to statewide pension changes, which he’s been trying to ram through the legislature since he took office. State Democrats overrode his veto, but Rauner, who turns 60 this month, has more support in the House, which has yet to vote. He has appointed outspoken pension reformer Marc Levine to head the $15 billion Illinois State Board of Investment. Levine has done one thing to make pension backers happy: He slashed ISBI’s hedge fund portfolio. — Michelle Celarier

 
The 2017 Pension Political Power 25Click below to view profiles

1. Andy Puzder Secretary of Labor 2. Bruce Rauner Governor of Illinois 3. Betsy DeVos Secretary of Education Sponsored Fireside Chat: Why We’re Bullish About Asset-Based Private Credit Sponsored by Castlelake November 3, 2025 4. Laura & John Arnold Founders, Laura and John Arnold Foundation 5. Steven Mnuchin Secretary of the Treasury

6. Wilbur Ross Secretary of Commerce 7. Tani Cantil-Sakauye California Chief Justice 8. Paul Ryan Speaker of the House 9. Anthony Scaramucci Founder, SkyBridge Capital 10. Kevin de León California State Senator and President Pro Tempore

11. Mike Enzi Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security 12. Steve Sweeney President, New Jersey State Senate 13. Jerry Brown Governor of California 14. Corey Lewandowski Co-founder, Avenue Strategies 15. Paul Singer President, Elliott Management Corp.

16. Randel Johnson Senior Vice President, Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits, U.S. Chamber of Commerce 17. Joe Manchin U.S. Senator 18. Kenneth Feinberg Founder and managingpartner, Feinberg Rozen 19. Scott Walker Governor of Wisconsin 20. Richard Trumka President, AFL-CIO

21. Mike Rawlings Mayor of Dallas 22. Elizabeth Warren U.S. Senator 23. Kent Mason Partner, Davis & Harman 24. Bernie Sanders U.S. Senator 25. Randi Weingarten President, American Federation of Teachers