Winner of Pa. wine kiosk deal has ties to the governor

HARRISBURG (AP) — A Pittsburgh television station is reporting that a company that won a contract to supply state-controlled wine vending machines has investors with ties to Gov. Ed Rendell.

WTAE-TV reported Thursday that two investors in Simple Brands are Ira Lubert and Herbert Vederman.

Both men have given in the six figures to Rendell’s campaigns for governor.

Simple Brands first proposed the idea and then was the only company to respond when the Liquor Control Board put the plan up for bid.

Board CEO Joe Conti says the agency went through a fair and open bidding process, and perhaps the new technology kept other bidders away.

A board spokesman says the machines must prove they can prevent sales to minors and intoxicated people before they are rolled out to the public.