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The 2017 Pension Political Power 25: Scott Walker
No. 19 Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin
When Scott Walker was elected governor of Wisconsin in 2010, it was the beginning of the end for the state’s public sector unions. The following year, to close a $3.6 billion budget gap, Walker pushed Act 10 through the legislature, eliminating collective bargaining rights for unionized state workers and doubling their mandated pension contributions. The Republican governor was hoping to replace the defined benefit pension that covers all state employees with a 401(k)-style savings plan, but he changed his mind after learning that Wisconsin’s system is fully funded and widely acknowledged as the best in the U.S. Walker survived a 2012 recall election that was held as protests against his antiunion actions mounted. With $30 million in funding from the Koch brothers and other GOP donors, the 49-year-old governor still has national ambitions. His model for taking on unions is one GOP leaders are looking to. — Frances Denmark
 1. Andy Puzder Secretary of Labor  2. Bruce Rauner Governor of Illinois  3. Betsy DeVos Secretary of Education  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 |