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.

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
• 2
  Lisa 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
• 3
  Lisa 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
• 10
  Lisa 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