State lawmakers’ efforts to weaken a government watchdog agency are drawing sharp criticism and vows of opposition from multiple Democrats against leaders in their own party.

State Senate President Nicholas Scutari , D-Union, sponsored and helped advance a bill last week, S4924 , that would strip powers from the New Jersey Office of the Comptroller, an independent state agency created to bring efficiency and transparency to government.

The bill would transfer much of the comptroller office’s power to the State Commission of Investigation. It follows a series of comptroller investigations that have angered their targets.

Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill signaled some opposition to the bill but stopped short of rejecting it outright last week.

“I am opposed to efforts that weaken essent

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