Robert (Bob) Fettig
Industry: Manufacturing
Primary Company: Tankcraft Corporation
Age: Unconfirmed
Location: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Estimated Worth: Unconfirmed
Background
Robert (Bob) P. Fettig is the CEO of Tankcraft Corporation, a metal fabrication firm in Darien, Wisconsin. The Fettig family includes Bob Fettig, Daniel Fettig, David Fettig, Steven Fettig,1“College of Engineering Recipients,” Marquette.edu. Accessed July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/DFslQ Christopher Fettig (listed in FEC data as an employee of Tankcraft, presumably a relation), and Maryellen Fettig.2Lisa Graves. “A CMD Special Report: Who Are the Headliners at Koch-Funded AFP Conventions?” PR Watch, March 29, 2011. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/QPYxz
Numerous members of the Fettig family have attended Koch network events in the past.3Lisa Graves. “A CMD Special Report: Who Are the Headliners at Koch-Funded AFP Conventions?” PR Watch, March 29, 2011. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/QPYxz
Bob Fettig also founded Plasticraft, a plastic roto and blow molder company, in 1990.4“College of Engineering Recipients,” Marquette.edu. Accessed July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/DFslQ
Storing Hazardous Materials Without a License
According to the description of the case in a 1992 appeal, a jury found Tankcraft Corp. and Robert P. Fettig guilty of willfully storing and disposing of hazardous wastes without a license. “Tankcraft was charged in a four-count criminal complaint with willfully storing spent toluene (Count One), willfully treating toluene still bottoms (Count Two), willfully treating paint filters containing chromium (Count Three), and willfully disposing of spent methylene chloride (Count Four), all without a required license.”5“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
Toluene is a “highly flammable liquid solvent used, among other things, as a paint thinner and to clean paint sprayers.” After use, it can become contaminated by paint or soil residue. “Tankcraft was not licensed to store dirty toluene,” the Court of Appeals noted. Methylene chloride is a degreaser used to prepare tanks for painting.6“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
“Tankcraft hired a consultant to investigate a customer complaint that the paint on its tank was not adhering properly. The consultant opined that the degreaser unit was contaminated with oil. Fettig ordered the unit dismantled and the approximately 300 gallons of methylene chloride remaining in the holding tank pumped onto the frozen ground, having been advised the chemical generally evaporates rapidly. Instead, the methylene chloride soaked into the ground, leaving behind an oily stain. Neither Fettig nor Tankcraft possessed a license to dispose of methylene chloride.”7“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
The court’s description goes on: “The jury found Tankcraft guilty on Counts One and Three, storage of spent toluene and disposal of spent methylene chloride. It found Fettig guilty on Count Three. Both defendants were found not guilty on Count Two, treatment of toluene still bottoms.8“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
“The trial court fined Tankcraft $24,377.60, including costs. It withheld sentence for Fettig, but placed him on probation, ordered eighty hours of community service and fined him $12,227.60, including costs, to be paid from his personal assets and earnings.” Tankcraft and Fettig unsuccessfully appealed. 9“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
Funding
Political Contributions
The Center for Media and Democracy’s PR Watch reported in 2011 that in the two years prior to 2011, the Fettig family collectively contributed almost $20,000 to Scott Walker, out of over $40,000 contributed to state campaigns in the previous two decades as well as over $40,000 to federal candidates and parties.10Lisa Graves. “A CMD Special Report: Who Are the Headliners at Koch-Funded AFP Conventions?” PR Watch, March 29, 2011. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/QPYxz
Below is a summary of the Fettig family’s political spending, via campaign finance data exported from the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Note that while efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of this data, errors may be introduced in the original finance records.
View the attached spreadsheet for a complete list of the Fettig family’s political spending by year (.xlsx).
| Committee Name | FETTIG, CHRISTOPHER I | FETTIG, DANIEL J. | FETTIG, DAVID C. | FETTIG, MARYELLEN | FETTIG, ROBERT MRS | FETTIG, ROBERT P | FETTIG, STEVEN | Grand Total |
| TRUMP VICTORY | $1,000 | $75,000 | $76,000 | |||||
| REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE | $67,400 | $67,400 | ||||||
| ROMNEY VICTORY INC | $50,000 | $50,000 | ||||||
| RON JOHNSON FOR SENATE INC | $1,000 | $25,800 | $26,800 | |||||
| RYAN FOR CONGRESS | $1,000 | $11,775 | $1,000 | $13,775 | ||||
| AMERICA FIRST ACTION, INC. | $10,000 | $10,000 | ||||||
| HERMANATOR PAC; THE | $5,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 | |||||
| WIN WISCONSIN FUND | $10,000 | $10,000 | ||||||
| DUFFY FOR CONGRESS | $3,750 | $4,800 | $8,550 | |||||
| LEAH FOR SENATE | $2,700 | $4,700 | $7,400 | |||||
| NRSC | $7,300 | $7,300 | ||||||
| STEIL FOR WISCONSIN, INC. | $5,400 | $5,400 | ||||||
| THOMPSON VICTORY COMMITTEE | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||||||
| ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||||||
| DUFFY FOR WISCONSIN | $4,245 | $4,245 | ||||||
| FRED THOMPSON POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE | $1,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | |||||
| IDAHO REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,550 | $3,550 | ||||||
| MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,550 | $3,550 | ||||||
| OKLAHOMA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL | $3,550 | $3,550 | ||||||
| VERMONT REPUBLICAN FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMITTEE | $3,550 | $3,550 | ||||||
| REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN | $75 | $3,443 | $3,518 | |||||
| RYAN FOR CONGRESS, INC. | $3,500 | $3,500 | ||||||
| MISSISSIPPI REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY FEDERAL ACCT | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| CONNECTICUT REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| WEST VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN PARTY, INC. | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| TENNESSEE REPUBLICAN PARTY FEDERAL ELECTION ACCOUNT | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| REPUBLICAN FEDERAL COMMITTEE OF PENNSYLVANIA | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIA INC | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| WYOMING REPUBLICAN PARTY, INC. | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| MISSOURI REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE-FEDERAL | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| REPUBLICAN PARTY OF LOUISIANA | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| KANSAS REPUBLICAN PARTY | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARKANSAS | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| NY REPUBLICAN FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE | $3,443 | $3,443 | ||||||
| REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN-FEDERAL COMMITTEE | $3,000 | $3,000 | ||||||
| NEUMANN FOR US SENATE | $991 | $2,000 | $2,991 | |||||
| DUFFY VICTORY FUND | $2,700 | $2,700 | ||||||
| DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT, INC. | $2,700 | $2,700 | ||||||
| FRIENDS OF LEAH VUKMIR | $2,700 | $2,700 | ||||||
| BRIAN MILLER FOR CONGRESS | $2,500 | $2,500 | ||||||
| FRIENDS OF HERMAN CAIN INC | $2,500 | $2,500 | ||||||
| NEUMANN FOR CONGRESS | $1,050 | $1,450 | $2,500 | |||||
| NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE | $2,500 | $2,500 | ||||||
| TEAM RYAN | $2,500 | $2,500 | ||||||
| ADAMS FOR CONGRESS | $2,000 | $2,000 | ||||||
| MARCO RUBIO FOR US SENATE | $2,000 | $2,000 | ||||||
| NEUMANN FOR CONGRESS ’94 | $1,200 | $1,200 | ||||||
| TOMMY THOMPSON FOR SENATE INC | $250 | $445 | $500 | $1,195 | ||||
| BLACK AMERICA’S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE | $1,100 | $1,100 | ||||||
| NORTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN PARTY | $1,062 | $1,062 | ||||||
| MARILINDA GARCIA FOR CONGRESS | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||
| HONEYCUTT FOR CONGRESS | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||
| TERRENCE WALL FOR US SENATE INC | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||
| REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE – RNC | $500 | $500 | $1,000 | |||||
| NICHOLSON FOR SENATE | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||
| BUSH FOR PRESIDENT INC | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||
| PEOPLE FOR PETAK | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||
| FRIENDS OF PAT TOOMEY | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||||
| CITIZENS FOR WELCH | $750 | $750 | ||||||
| PAUL BROUN COMMITTEE | $750 | $750 | ||||||
| AMERICAN RENEWAL PAC | $500 | $500 | ||||||
| NRCC | $240 | $240 | ||||||
| CITIZENS FOR NEUMANN | $200 | $200 | ||||||
| MIKE GALLAGHER FOR WISCONSIN | $100 | $100 | ||||||
| FRIENDS OF JOHN BOEHNER | $75 | $75 | ||||||
| NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE | $1 | $1 | ||||||
| Grand Total | $250 | $835 | $19,292 | $2,700 | $500 | $411,746 | $4,500 | $439,823 |
Koch Events
February 2014
Bob and Steve Fettig were listed as attendees at the Koch’s February 2014 semiannual conference in Palm Springs. Their names were on a guest list provided to Mother Jones magazine. According to Mother Jones, “the meeting list illustrates the interwoven nature of the Koch brothers’ corporate, political, and philanthropic activities.”11“The Koch Brothers Left a Confidential Document at Their Donor Conference,” Mother Jones, February 5, 2014. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/OnI9K
June 2010
Dave, Bob, and Steve Fettig all attended the June 2010 meeting of the Koch network in Aspen, Colorado. A list of attendees and a schedule for the Aspen summit was obtained by ThinkProgress.12“MEMO: Health Insurance, Banking, Oil Industries Met With Koch, Chamber, Glenn Beck To Plot 2010 Election,” ThinkProgress, October 20, 2010. Archived July 10, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KUNp3
Affiliations
- Tankcraft Corporation – CEO.
Other Resources
Resources
- 1“College of Engineering Recipients,” Marquette.edu. Accessed July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/DFslQ
- 2Lisa Graves. “A CMD Special Report: Who Are the Headliners at Koch-Funded AFP Conventions?” PR Watch, March 29, 2011. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/QPYxz
- 3Lisa Graves. “A CMD Special Report: Who Are the Headliners at Koch-Funded AFP Conventions?” PR Watch, March 29, 2011. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/QPYxz
- 4“College of Engineering Recipients,” Marquette.edu. Accessed July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/DFslQ
- 5“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
- 6“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
- 7“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
- 8“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
- 9“State v. Fettig 172 Wis. 2d 428 (1992),” Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, decided November 18, 1992. Case summary via Justia. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/dxn8j
- 10Lisa Graves. “A CMD Special Report: Who Are the Headliners at Koch-Funded AFP Conventions?” PR Watch, March 29, 2011. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/QPYxz
- 11“The Koch Brothers Left a Confidential Document at Their Donor Conference,” Mother Jones, February 5, 2014. Archived July 17, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/OnI9K
- 12“MEMO: Health Insurance, Banking, Oil Industries Met With Koch, Chamber, Glenn Beck To Plot 2010 Election,” ThinkProgress, October 20, 2010. Archived July 10, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KUNp3
